New Solar Glass Coating Holds Promise for Solar Panels

Research company Tecnalia, with the University of Cantabria in Spain, made a new solar glass coating for photovoltaic solar cells that can enhance the performance of the device.

Solar cell coatings are currently made of materials not optimized for absorbing high-frequency radiation (to learn more about the composition of solar energy click here).

Tecnalia’s Sunglass project is focusing on improving solar cells’ conversion of frequencies, the ability to absorb photons of certain frequencies and emitting these afterwards in another range of frequency.

With this, the researchers hope to increase the performance of solar panels, which on the average have a solar conversion efficiency of around 15 percent.

The Sunglass project aims to develop a new coating, as well as an entire solar module product.

The researchers examined various photoactive substances to determine the substances’ capacity to absorb high-frequency radiation in order to subsequently emit it at ranges more effective for solar cells.

The new glass coating should contribute 2 percent to 3 percent efficiency increase for PV solar panels, said the researchers.

Though the photoactive substances can also be used in other applications, it is hoped that it will boost the production of clean energy.

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