I mean, couldn't you take a solar panel and make it like an awning above the window or something? Have a system where it can pull into the window to be flush with the building if you want.

This seems more like an alternative to tinting films. So you can harvest the energy that would otherwise be lost.

The indoor light sounds pretty silly, I agree.

Do you think there is an appreciable amount of IR, near IR, UV light that it could be worth it? I'm out of date, are we good at harvesting near-ir in photovoltaics? I remember hearing or reading about some frequency upconversion material solutions but it's been a while.

Another problem that comes to mind is the fact that you often want to reflect non-useful-to-vision light rather than absorb it (and heat up).

Boston’s logan airport has them in the newest terminal.

They work, but scatter light in a weird way and heat up the space dramatically. Granted that these are floor to ceiling 2 story windows, might have been hot either way, but can’t have reflective coating with solar.

Or because people want windows to let light into their homes?

Solar panels make sense on roofs, not windows

Doesn’t make sense economically/for big corporations.

At least they're smarter than the solar roadways guy?

I think it all boils down to "hey boss, I patented this new technology!", "great, let's shove it down people's throats, pour a bunch of money into getting this hyped in popsci magazines and online tech spaces, we're gonna make hundreds of millions of dollars before anyone realizes what a dumb fucking idea this is."

I think you lack imagination. It all comes down to cost and convenience. Mounting something on the exterior is going to be a specialized process whereas getting new windows is relatively standardized. Then add to integration with the electrical system. Theoretically this could be like balcony solar. An electric plug under a window is not uncommon. So if the cost for a solar window is not that much more than a standard window to some degree. It would make sense. Its not a crazy thing to look into at all. Now granted might as well make the exterior frame collect solar as well if possible but again that might just end up being to expensive relative to surface area. Would be worth looking into though just like the window.

It wouldn't really need to generate "significant" power. At least, not in terms of whole-home power. Something like this could easily generate and store enough power for an auxiliary system, something like overnight lighting. Basically the same principle as those solar lawn lamps, but for inside. Wire 'em all to a battery and a bunch of lights and light/motion sensors throughout the home, and you've got automatic nightlights that work even when the power's out.

yeah but windows don't get trode on.

Driving on solar panels seems bad for them.

If the best counter argument for this is fictional, then i'm probably ok with it.

Do go on