Transparent solar cells

The project, 'Transparent PV modules - shading devices of the future' is based on the vision of a shading device which is energy producing, sun shading and transparent. This solar cell can be achieved with selective micro structuring of the cell. The core of the project has been to understand how a micro structuring of the PEC solar cell influences on the current flow of the cell and to investigate how the micro structured solar cell can be used as a filter of light in a transparent facade - a filter that improves both the thermal indoor climate and the lighting behind the facade. It has been demonstrated that it is possible to make a shading device, which is an attractive thermal as well as architectural alternative to existing designs. Production and characterisation of structured PEC cells has shown that this platform is not optimal but serves as a good and simple demonstrator of the critical conditions for production in laboratory - and industrial scale. Future work will address the mechanical stability of the cell and scaling up the PEC cell production from lab scale to industrial scale