Ubiquitous Energy

Ubiquitous Energy
Name	Ubiquitous Energy
Industry	Renewable energy, Photovoltaics
Founded	0 2011
Founders	Miles Barr, Vladimir Bulović, Richard Lunt
Headquarters	Redwood City, California, United States
Key people	Susan Stone (CEO)
Products	Transparent solar cell technology
Website	https://ubiquitous.energy/

Ubiquitous Energy is a technology company specializing in the development of transparent photovoltaic materials designed to convert light into electricity without compromising visual clarity. Founded as a spin-out from research conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the company aims to integrate solar harvesting capabilities into everyday surfaces like windows and electronic displays. Its core innovation involves organic semiconductor materials that selectively absorb non-visible ultraviolet and near-infrared light, allowing visible light to pass through. This approach seeks to transform building fenestration and consumer electronics into decentralized power generators.

Overview

The concept for Ubiquitous Energy originated from foundational research in optoelectronics and photonics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, under the guidance of Professor Vladimir Bulović. Co-founders Miles Barr, Richard Lunt, and Bulović published seminal work on transparent luminescent solar concentrators, which laid the groundwork for the company's technology. Incorporated in 2011, the firm has since advanced its platform, attracting investment from entities like the Glass and Glazing Federation and Andreessen Horowitz. The company's mission centers on enabling "building-integrated photovoltaics" to reduce reliance on the electrical grid and lower the carbon footprint of structures. Its development efforts are closely tied to global initiatives such as the Paris Agreement and the push for net-zero energy building standards.

Technology and Materials

Ubiquitous Energy's technology is based on transparent solar cells composed of thin-film organic photovoltaic materials. These materials utilize custom-engineered organic molecules and polymers that act as light-harvesting complexes, absorbing specific wavelengths in the ultraviolet and near-infrared spectrum. The architecture often involves stacking multiple semiconductor layers in a tandem cell configuration to optimize photon absorption and charge carrier generation. Key fabrication processes include solution processing and vacuum deposition, which allow the coatings to be applied to substrates like glass and polyethylene terephthalate at low temperatures. This compatibility with standard glazing and display manufacturing lines is a critical technical advantage, differentiating it from conventional silicon solar cell technologies.

Applications and Integration

The primary application is in transparent solar windows for the construction industry, targeting commercial buildings like the Empire State Building and residential structures. These windows can be integrated into curtain wall systems and skylights, contributing to a building's energy mix without altering its architectural design. A significant partnership with Andersen Corporation aims to develop solar-harvesting windows for the residential market. Beyond architecture, the technology is being developed for integration into the screens of consumer electronics, such as smartphones, tablet computers, and wearable technology, to extend battery life. Other potential uses include greenhouse glazing, automotive glass for electric vehicles, and Internet of Things sensors, effectively turning any light-facing surface into a power source.

Advantages and Challenges

The principal advantage is the ability to generate renewable energy from existing surfaces without land use or aesthetic compromise, a concept aligned with distributed generation. This can reduce operational energy consumption in buildings and lower dependency on fossil fuel-based power plants. Technically, the low-temperature processing allows for integration with fragile substrates and flexible electronics. Key challenges include improving the power conversion efficiency to compete with opaque photovoltaic modules, ensuring long-term durability against photodegradation and environmental stress cracking, and managing manufacturing cost per watt at scale. Furthermore, the technology must meet stringent building codes and standards set by organizations like Underwriters Laboratories and the International Organization for Standardization.

Research and Development

Ongoing research and development is conducted in collaboration with academic institutions, including the University of Michigan and Stanford University. Focus areas include synthesizing new organic semiconductor materials with broader absorption spectra, enhancing charge transport properties, and improving the environmental stability of the films. Work also progresses on scalable manufacturing techniques, such as roll-to-roll processing and inkjet printing. The company engages with government-funded programs, including those from the United States Department of Energy's Solar Energy Technologies Office, to advance solid-state physics understanding and accelerate technology readiness level progression. Patent portfolios protecting the core inventions are regularly expanded through the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Market and Commercialization

Ubiquitous Energy operates within the emerging Building-Integrated Photovoltaics market, competing with companies like Heliatek and Onyx Solar. Its commercialization strategy involves partnerships with major glass manufacturers and window manufacturers to embed its technology into their product lines. The company has initiated pilot projects with architectural firms and property developers in cities like New York City and Tokyo. In 2022, it announced plans to construct a first-of-its-kind manufacturing facility in Michigan to scale production. Market adoption is driven by growing corporate sustainability goals, green building certification programs like LEED, and incentives from policies such as the Inflation Reduction Act. The long-term vision is to enable a future where energy generation is seamlessly woven into the human-made environment.

Category:Photovoltaics companies Category:Solar power in the United States Category:Companies based in San Mateo County, California Category:Renewable energy companies established in 2011