Patagonia Tries Out Solar-Powered Windows for Outdoor Use

At Patagonia Inc.'s California headquarters, some windows are outfitted with solar panels that generate power for the building.

Outdoor-clothing retailer is testing solar-panel windows, a new technology that proponents hope will become a source of electricity for homes and commercial buildings. Solar-panel windows are unproven but could become a crucial source of energy if they prove successful.

The windows at Patagonia have a layer of transparent photovoltaic cells between panes of glass that turn sunlight into electricity. Cables connect the windows to charging stations where employees can power their cellphones.

Solar power has become increasingly popular in recent years as more companies and building owners look to cut carbon emissions. Tenants and investors increasingly prefer environmentally friendly buildings, pushing up their values relative to other properties, real-estate brokers say.

A number of cities and states have passed laws that will fine building owners for carbon emissions beyond a set threshold. In 2018, California passed a law that requires solar panels on all new homes and apartment buildings up to three stories tall, and will have a mandate for many types of new commercial buildings starting Jan. 1. This is one way that these municipalities are working to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainability.

Supporters of solar-panel windows argue that the technology could enable owners of buildings with glass facades to generate significantly more solar power than by simply installing traditional solar panels on the roof. Patagonia's headquarters will be an early test case of whether the technology can live up to its potential.

Vincent Stanley, Patagonia's director of philosophy, said the company is exploring the possibility of using solar-panel windows at its headquarters complex in Ventura, Calif. "We can figure out how it works and support its development," he said. "If it does work, the potential is enormous."

The company has installed 22 so-called transparent solar-harvesting windows produced by Next Energy Technologies Inc. in a south-facing facade at one of its Ventura buildings. The company's campus includes a volleyball court, an indoor climbing wall, a surfboard factory and solar panels above the main parking lot.

According to Daniel Emmett, CEO of Next, solar-panel windows are not as efficient as traditional panels because they have to be transparent to let light through. Solar-panel windows only capture about a quarter to a third of the energy that traditional panels do.

Solar-panel windows can be a great way to make buildings more energy-efficient, but some homeowners may be hesitant to adopt them because of the upfront cost. Semida Silveira, a professor of practice in Cornell University’s systems engineering program, says that solar-panel windows can pay off over time, and that government incentives can help offset the initial cost. Silveira believes that solar-panel windows, alongside traditional solar panels, could play an important role in making buildings more sustainable.

Ms. Silveira said that some buildings can become powerhouses and produce energy not only for themselves but also for a whole neighborhood.

Mr. Emmett said that his company has not yet decided how much its windows will cost. However, he estimates that they will pay off for customers within one to five years, thanks to federal tax credits and savings on electricity bills.

Solar-panel windows are also effective at capturing infrared light, which can help to keep rooms cooler and reduce the need for air-conditioning, as Mr. Emmett explained.

Next, a company based in Santa Barbara, California, is not the only one looking to sell transparent solar panels. In January, Ubiquitous Energy, another company based in Redwood City, California, announced that it had raised $30 million in venture funding from Andersen Corp., a window maker, and other investors.

Patagonia has been a supporter of green initiatives for many years, and its headquarters are already partially powered by solar energy. In September, founder Yvon Chouinard announced that he had transferred ownership of the company to a trust and nonprofit organization that would use its profits to fight climate change.