Solar-paneled windows that can turn entire buildings into power plants break electricity records!
Researchers in Denmark have set a new world record in efficiency for converting sunlight into electricity using new windows that allow light to pass through while simultaneously generating energy.
Transparent solar cell technology could provide a breakthrough for renewable energy by transforming skyscrapers and offices into power plants, using their windows to become solar panels.
Innovation from the CitySolar project could also help Europe meet its ambitions to make all new buildings nearly zero-energy and to fully decarbonise the European construction sector by 2050.
Researchers from the University of Southern Denmark combined organic solar cells with perovskite material, which achieved an efficiency of 12.3 percent, which is on par with commercial solar cells. The international team says the panels also have a transparency of 30 percent.
Until now, transparent solar windows have not been able to absorb enough energy to generate the amount of electricity needed for a building, and the panels have previously not been transparent enough to be used. The CitySolar project says it has now overcome these issues.
"Transparent solar cells could be the next big step in building integrated energy solutions, " said Morten Madsen, a professor from the University of Southern Denmark who was one of the lead researchers behind the discovery.
“The large glass facades found in modern office buildings can now be used for energy generation without requiring additional space or special structural changes... This represents a massive market opportunity.”
Furthermore, Madsen said the two materials used in the cells are very affordable and could be scaled up for commercial deployment. When added to an organic solar cell, the perovskite layer absorbs near-ultraviolet light and the cell absorbs near-infrared light.
"The tandem solar cell primarily collects energy from the infrared and ultraviolet parts of sunlight, but not from visible light. This allows us to set new efficiency standards for semi-transparent solar windows, " Madsen said.
This then allows light from the visible spectrum to pass through while leaving the visible spectrum relatively untouched. Both materials are very affordable, according to Madsen, making it a suitable technology for commercial-scale deployment.
The project is currently at a technology readiness level (TRL) of between five and six, meaning it is between the proof-of-concept and prototype stages. It has received almost €4 million in EU funding and the team is currently in discussions with industry partners to scale up production of the transparent solar panels.
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