Although the designs of many household solar panels are such that installation requires the skills of full-blown professionals, 3M has developed a see-through solar film that changes not only the idea of what solar panels look like, but also how they are installed. Because the film was designed to easily be affixed to a home’s windows, the product lets homeowners do the job that might otherwise require the experience of Bob Vila to get done—especially in cases requiring climbing on top of one’s roof. What’s more 3M’s translucent panels generate electricity and block about 80% of the sun’s visible rays, without blocking a homeowner’s view. Currently on display at the CEATEC electronics conference in Japan, 3M says the film will go on sale next year.

Made from an organic photovoltaic material that is printed in sheets, the narrow green panels are arrayed in patches and glued to the outside of a window (as the maker of products like Scotch Tape and Super Glue, 3M knows a thing or two about adhesives) to generate power and act as a shade on hot days.

While the sleek appearance, do-it-yourself installation, and energy savings are positives, a downside of the product is that it can only generate about 20% of the electricity that a traditional silicon solar panel does. Under peak sunlight conditions, a square meter of the film can generate about 5 volts at 7 watts of electricity – or enough to charge a smart phone.

The company hasn’t established a final price for the product, but estimates it will cost about half as much as traditional panels. Which is certainly an upside.