Researchers have set a new efficiency world record for converting sunlight into electricity using transparent solar cells.
The breakthrough, made by an international team from the CitySolar project, is a huge boost for renewable energy , allowing entire skyscrapers to serve as power stations by transforming their windows into solar panels.
By combining organic solar cells with the so-called ‘miracle material’ perovskite The researchers managed to attain an efficiency rate of 12.3 percent, which is nearly equivalent to that of commercially available solar cells.
"Transparent solar cells might represent the next significant advancement in integrated architectural energy systems," stated Professor Morten Madsen from the University of Southern Denmark, a leading researcher involved in this breakthrough development.
The expansive glass surfaces of contemporary office structures can now facilitate power generation without necessitating extra land or modifications to their design... This presents a significant commercial prospect.
The CitySolar initiative is the first to address the primary issue with see-through solar cells, which involves striking a balance between efficiency and translucency.
The combination of perovskite with an organic layer allows the cell to harvest electricity from near-infrared and near-ultraviolet light, leaving light from the visible spectrum to pass through.
The two materials are also highly affordable, according to Professor 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 already received nearly €4 million in funding from the EU in the hope that it will help Europe reach its target of fully decarbonising the building sector, which accounts for approximately 40 per cent of the continent’s energy consumption.
The team behind the discovery is currently in discussions with industry partners in order to scale up production of the see-through solar panels and make them available for future construction projects.
“There are still research improvements to be made but importantly, we know where the challenges lie and have a clear strategy for overcoming them,” said Professor Madsen. “We can scale up what we have, but we need business partners.”
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