Greater Efficiency, Lower Cost- Could Transparent Solar Cells Be The Next Big Thing?

For several decades, Switzerland has been home to some pioneering scientific innovations in renewable energy. In what could be termed a breakthrough in the solar world, scientists from the country have developed dye-sensitized solar cells (DSC) that promise the benefits of record-setting efficiency levels along with the holy grail of low cost and flexibility.

How Do These Cells Work & How Are They Different?

To achieve the purpose of greater efficiency, transparent solar panels in which photosensitised dye is employed. This dye, in turn, is attached to a semiconductor to enable the conversion of light into energy.

Formerly, the DSCs available in the market depended on direct sunlight to generate electricity, however with the newly-innovated transparent photosensitisers, molecules become active by light and can absorb light across the entire spectrum of visible light.

To add to the flexibility feature of the transparent solar panels, they can be made in many colours and are yet affordable.

A typical solar panel boasts of efficiency levels of around 20 per cent. the solar panels that are transparent in nature can cross 15 per cent when there is direct sunlight and up to 30 per cent during ambient light conditions.

Innovations like these, if scaled up, can open up a whole new world of solar applications, from windows to any large building using glass, be it in the facade or otherwise. BIPV this could get a huge boost. The question is, how long will the ourney from lab to market take ?