Since 2011 and with the media appearance of WYSIPS, we have seen how the transparent solar cells have begun to change the solar energy landscape. This technology, initially developed for applications in mobile devices, has evolved into a future with more applications that extend to building glass, vehicles and even public infrastructure.
The main technologies of transparent solar cells
The French company SunPartner Technologies took the first step in this field by presenting WYSIPS (What You See Is Photovoltaic Surface) in 2011. This innovative photovoltaic cell was manufactured in a thin transparent photovoltaic film, with a base of plastic and organic compounds.
El photovoltaic film Initially, it could absorb a portion of the infrared and ultraviolet spectrum, as well as a small portion of the visible spectrum, achieving an efficiency of 7% to 9%. However, this compromised the transparency of the material to 70%. To solve this problem, in 2015, SunPartner improved the technology, achieving 90% transparency, although at the cost of reducing its energy efficiency by 2% to 3%.
Other technologies in the sector include transparent organic and oxide photovoltaic cells, which allow light to pass through while converting solar radiation into electricity. These are newer and allow for more versatile adaptations such as architectural cladding and photovoltaic windows. In this evolution, efficiency has improved, but challenges remain in terms of performance.
Advantages of transparent solar cell
The transparent solar cells They are ideal for integration into multiple applications due to the following advantages:
- seamless integration: These cells can be placed in windows, facades and mobile devices without compromising aesthetics.
- Flexibility: The flexibility of these panels allows their application in multiple shapes and materials.
- Multiple applications: From its use in infrastructure to mobile technology, parking lots or even greenhouses and swimming pools.
Disadvantages of transparent solar cells
- The cells do not yet achieve high performance in terms of efficiency, which is a disadvantage compared to traditional solar panels.
- The cost remains high, although the trend is downwards as technological development continues.
- Transparency ranges from 70% to 90%, slightly affecting aesthetics in some cases.
Evolution towards solar windows
In 2014, the University of Michigan developed a completely transparent photovoltaic cell thanks to its technology organic polymersUnlike the previous ones, this cell only absorbs infrared radiation, allowing for almost complete transparency similar to glass. This cell still has a low efficiency of 1%, but researchers hope to raise this to 5%.
These solar windows can be integrated into buildings and represent an important source of clean energy, without affecting architectural aesthetics. Incorporating solar windows into skyscrapers or electric vehicles seems to be the next big step for this technology.
Operating principle
Transparent solar cells They work in a similar way to traditional ones, but instead of capturing all visible light, they focus on absorbing ultraviolet and infrared light. organic polymer In the cells it converts this light into energy, while the rest of the light passes through the material, maintaining its transparency.
To improve efficiency, some models have incorporated bifacial cells, which capture light from both sides of the panel. This allows solar windows to obtain energy not only from direct sunlight, but also from light reflected from their surroundings, such as nearby buildings.
Future potential of transparent solar cells
Exterior of modern glass residential building or office building
The development of transparent solar cells is still in an early phase, but multiple avenues are already being explored. potential applications. These include:
- Solar windows: Its use in large buildings promises a major contribution to energy production in urban areas, without the need to occupy additional space.
- Mobile devices: Work is underway to integrate transparent solar panels into the screens of smartphones and tablets, which will allow the devices to be recharged using natural light.
- Electric cars: Solar windows can help charge electric car batteries, reducing the need for frequent charging.
The industry is also experimenting with options for generating power through solar tiles and photovoltaic curtains, which would offer another way to expand clean energy production in cities.
Transparent solar cells represent one of the most exciting innovations in the field of solar energy. Although they still present some technical challenges, such as low efficiency and high cost, their potential applications are endless.
Since incorporation in solar windows With the integration of these cells with mobile devices, they can revolutionize the way we capture solar energy. The key will be to continue optimizing their energy efficiency and reducing costs to make them more accessible on the market.