Solar power is leading; however, one of the reasons why certain individuals are not keen to switch to solar energy is because of the colour. Blue and black are not everyone’s favourite colours, especially on their rooftops; also, at times the colours dismiss the whole aesthetic design or idea. Therefore, researchers from AMOLF, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and the Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) have come up with a better idea.
How were they able to do it? The science underpinning the innovation in green solar cells
These researchers have developed the first-ever green solar cell and it is a newly defined era for photovoltaics. According to AMOLF, a silicon heterojunction solar cell’s front module glass has arrays of silicon nanoparticles that scatter a small portion of the sun’s spectrum and give the cell a green look from a variety of perspectives. This seems to be a time-consuming process, however.
Conventional solar panels have the advantage that the power efficiency is more effective than the solar cells with different colours, such as green. Dark colours absorb heat easily and so, for the generation of electricity, it is more efficient. However, with green reducing efficiently by 10%, it seems like there is still a preference for such, as long as it meets the aesthetics of the building and so forth.
This technological development is good, and researchers claim that the reduction in heat absorption can also promote longevity because at times more heat absorbed can damage the blue or black solar panels over time. Up to 75 degrees, the solar panel appears green from a wide variety of perspectives. Additionally, Verena Neder, lead author of the paper and researcher at AMOLF, expressed,
“The black appearance of the [conventional] solar panels is not attractive for many people and a reason to not put solar panels on their rooftop. Making solar cells colored makes it possible to integrate them in an architectural design of houses and full cities, but also to merge them in the landscape.”
Beyond green: A range of shades and enhanced uses
Green is not the only aesthetically pleasing colour because it is not every design that needs green and not everyone is a fan of green either. According to an article by Inhabitat, the process of developing green solar panels is in the books, but other colours, such as white, red and other shades or colour combinations, are also in the books of solar panel developments.
In other words, developers and engineers want to give what the people want. Also, there are certain regions and building aesthetics that are specifically meant to attract people like tourists or just to maintain a cultural and traditional look over time; therefore, they cannot always rely on dark blue or black; they will need a matching colour coordination to maintain the appealing appearance.
Solar panels with different colours could also revolutionise the way we see solar energy. Mind you, this is not only applicable to businesses or large buildings; even an individual with a home that has a tailored design can also look into merging colours to meet the design needs.
Are colour solar panels cost-efficient?
Installing a regular traditional solar panel is expensive all in all. However, the world is still switching to it because we want to have a cleaner environment. In an era where design, architecture and aesthetics are prioritised, despite the costs, it is worth the expense as long as companies and experts can implement the different colours to satisfy consumer needs.
Neder also expressed that the process of changing colours is not easy, but because it is what the community is demanding, it is something they are willing to compromise on. With advanced technology, solar companies can take over the world with this colour-changing method for these sustainable renewable energy sources.