Innovation
Marzo 26, 2021 - < 1 min

A transparent electric future

A new frontier for solar power generation?

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The generation of electricity from photovoltaic panels is one of the technologies that has grown the most worldwide in recent years. And the future promises even more. For some years now, various initiatives have been underway to use transparent cells, which can be used as windows in different types of buildings, to generate electricity. One of the most promising technologies in this area is transparent luminescent solar concentrators (TLSCs), developed by the University of Michigan, which can be adjusted to absorb ultraviolet and near-infrared waves and thus generate enough electricity to power part of a building's lighting and small appliances. Other similar projects include those of the Italian state oil company ENI, developed in conjunction with MIT, and the Australian company ClearVue, which are seeking to enter the market. The technology is in its early stages and research is currently focused on achieving greater efficiency in converting light into electricity.