2024-11-23T23:50:29-05:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/149993737/mit-startup-creates-camouflage-solar-panels Alexander Walter 2017-02-24T14:17:00-05:00 >2022-03-16T09:16:08-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/wt/wtooo7ftze3tzmkh.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><em><p>Founded at the MIT Sloan School of Management, Sistine creates custom solar panels designed to mimic home facades and other environments, with aims of enticing more homeowners to install photovoltaic systems. Sistine&rsquo;s novel technology, SolarSkin, is a layer that can be imprinted with any image and embedded into a solar panel without interfering with the panel&rsquo;s efficacy. Homeowners can match their rooftop or a grassy lawn.</p></em><br /><br /><p>The product caters to the growing "aesthetic solar" market which tries to attract homeowners that are considering going solar but fear the aesthetic impact of the traditional, bleak-looking dark solar panels on their home's appearance. Just last fall, Tesla CEO Elon Musk <a href="http://archinect.com/news/article/149975987/say-goodbye-to-clunky-solar-panels-and-hello-to-tesla-s-sleek-new-glass-solar-roof-tiles" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">revealed</a> a line of glass, photovoltaic cell-embedded roof tiles that mimic (currently) four common roof covering styles.</p><p>Here a few more examples of Sistine's SolarSkin technology that allows&mdash;so the company claims&mdash;the panels to either completely blend in with the existing roof or display any desired image, like business logos or advertisements.</p><p><img title="" alt="" src="http://cdn.archinect.net/images/650x/xi/xiishtv1bckqwces.jpg"></p><p><img title="" alt="" src="http://cdn.archinect.net/images/650x/2m/2m8meg82y815270x.jpg"></p><p><img title="" alt="" src="http://cdn.archinect.net/images/650x/ty/tyyb8jo3p27ha47m.jpg"></p><p><em>All images via&nbsp;Sistine Solar's <a href="http://www.sistinesolar.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">website</a>.</em></p>