Technology Opportunities

Making solar energy cheaper

Highlights

• There is a high demand for solar energy but it is is still too expensive for massive uses in light of the high prices of photovoltaic cells.
• Luminescence solar concentrators can provide a partial solution to the utilization of solar energy if properly designed.
• Luminescence solar concentrators have been studied for the last 30 years but only restricted performance was achieved resulting in low efficiency.

Our Innovation

Luminescence solar concentrators with improved efficiency that absorb a major part of the solar spectrum by using a combination of fluorescent dyes. The luminescence concentrators can be installed in any transparent glass or plastic surfaces like windows, avoiding the need for allocating large and costly areas for solar panels in the dense urban environment.

Key Features

• Complete absorption of the useful solar light by utilisation of surface plasmons.
• High quantum efficiency of the obtained luminescence.
• Prevention of self-absorption of the fluorescence.
• Smaller quantities of photovoltaic cells are required.
• Environmentally friendly.

Development Milestones

• Technology should be tested on commercially available glass plates.
• Seeking funding for ongoing research.

The Opportunity

• Environmentally friendly technology that will decrease the photovoltaic electricity expenses.
• Luminescence solar concentrators with potential applications in the glass industry, the solar energy market and the green building industry.