Solar paint: Coating your home in energy

Solar paint might sound like science fiction, but it's a real technology that can turn your house into a power plant just by giving it a fresh coat of paint. What is it – a game-changer in the coming years or an idea never destined to hit store shelves? Find out in our article.

What is solar paint?

Solar paint is a special liquid coating that can turn sunlight into electricity or fuel. Unlike solar panels that need professional installation, solar paint goes on just like regular paint. You could brush or roll it onto your walls, roof, or other surfaces to make them generate power.

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Three types of solar paint

Different types of solar paint use different materials and methods to capture energy. The three main types being developed today are hydrogen-producing solar paint, quantum dot solar cells, and perovskite solar paint.

Hydrogen-producing solar paint

The paint contains a special material called synthetic molybdenum-sulfide that absorbs moisture from the air, similar to those little silica packets that come in shoeboxes. It also contains titanium oxide, which is found in normal paint. Together, these materials use sunlight to break water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen can then be used as clean energy.

Quantum dot solar cells

Quantum dot solar cells, also called photovoltaic paint, use tiny particles called quantum dots to capture more types of light than regular solar panels. While standard panels mostly use visible light, quantum dot paint can also harness infrared light, which makes up about half of the sun's energy reaching Earth, potentially creating more power in less space than traditional solar panels.

Perovskite solar paint

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What are perovskite solar cells and how will they change solar industry

Perovskite solar paint or spray-on solar cells uses special minerals that can conduct electricity when hit by sunlight. Named after a Russian scientist who discovered these minerals, perovskite materials can be as efficient as silicon used in regular solar panels and may also be turned into a liquid form that works well as solar paint.

Bright sides of solar paint

What makes solar paint worth keeping an eye on? While not ready for store shelves yet, this technology shows promise over traditional solar panels, explaining why researchers and companies are investing in it.

One of the biggest selling points of solar paint is how easy it would be to use. Unlike solar panels that need professional installers, special mounting hardware, and sometimes structural changes to your home, solar paint could be applied with regular painting tools using skills you already have. 

Solar paint also eliminates worries about whether your roof can support heavy panels or where to mount them. Any surface that gets good sunlight could become an energy producer with a simple coat of paint.

Solar paint can go places where rigid panels can't. While traditional solar panels only work on flat, sturdy surfaces like roofs, solar paint could cover curved areas, walls, fences, or even vehicles.

This opens up many more possibilities for generating power. Homes with small roofs or roofs that don't face the right direction could still produce solar energy using their walls or other structures. Solar paint could also enhance existing solar panel systems, be applied to cars to add charging capability, or even create standalone power systems.

While solar paint isn't commercially available yet, it could be cheaper than traditional solar panels. The materials used might cost less than those in silicon panels, and the easier application would save on installation costs.

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For homeowners, solar paint could provide a more affordable way to start generating renewable energy. Even if early versions aren't as efficient as panels, the lower cost could make them attractive, especially as a first step into solar power or for supplemental energy generation.

Dark sides of solar paint

Despite its promise, solar paint isn't without obstacles that need to be overcome before it becomes a mainstream solution. Let’s see where the technology stands today and what hurdles remain before it might appear on hardware store shelves.

✗ Efficiency concerns

The biggest problem for solar paint right now is efficiency. Regular solar panels typically convert 20-22% of sunlight. Solar paint technologies currently have much lower rates. This means you'd need to cover a larger area to generate the same amount of power as a standard panel.

For homeowners considering solar paint, this means being realistic about how much energy it could produce. A small area of solar paint might not make a significant difference in your energy bills.

✗ Durability challenges

Another challenge is making solar paint tough enough to last. Regular solar panels are built to withstand harsh weather for 25+ years. Solar paint hasn't yet proven it can hold up that long against rain, snow, temperature changes, and physical damage.

Traditional solar panels typically come with 25-year warranties, and many last even longer. We don't yet know how long solar paint will maintain its power-generating abilities when exposed to real-world conditions.

✗ Scalability issues

While solar paint looks promising in labs, making enough of it presents challenges. Each type of solar paint requires specialized materials and production methods that aren't yet ready for mass manufacturing.

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For potential users, these challenges mean limited availability and possibly higher costs until production ramps up. Early adopters might have trouble finding suppliers or contractors familiar with solar paint.

How might solar paint be used in the real world? 

While still emerging, several practical applications show how it might fit into various aspects of everyday life. For homeowners and DIY enthusiasts, these applications represent the most likely ways you might encounter solar paint in the coming years.

Cover walls or windows of buildings or homes

The most obvious use for solar paint is on buildings, making renewable energy generation a standard feature rather than an add-on. Exterior walls, roofs, and other surfaces could generate power while maintaining a normal appearance.

For homeowners who don't like the look of solar panels, solar paint offers an attractive alternative. This could be especially valuable for historic homes or neighborhoods with strict appearance guidelines.

Apply to cars and trucks

Imagine your car recharging itself while parked in a sunny spot, or keeping the battery topped up during storage. For electric vehicle owners worried about running out of charge, this could provide peace of mind and extra miles.

Even conventional vehicles could use solar paint to power climate control systems, keeping interiors cool while parked in the sun or maintaining battery charge for vehicles not driven regularly.

Add to existing solar energy systems

For homeowners who already have solar panels, solar paint could work as a complementary technology. By adding solar paint to surfaces that weren't suitable for panels, you could increase your total energy production.

This hybrid approach uses the higher efficiency of traditional panels while capturing additional energy through painted surfaces. The result would be more total power generation from your property.

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Julia Zaraeva

Author

Years of experience in translation and a love of nature help Julia find the right words to encourage going solar. She joined the team in 2023 and is happy to make her contribution to a greener future.

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