A Swiss company has come out with a ‘revolution in renewable energy architecture’ – the world’s first white (and coloured) solar panels with no visible cells or connections.

CSEM believes that the solar panels used today were not designed to be integrated into buildings and believes there is a market for it. They believe that as a result of the aesthetics, some are declining to install solar power where they would if the colour and ugly connections where not visible.

“For decades architects have been asking for a way to customize the colour of solar elements to make them blend into a building’s skin. White is a particularly interesting colour as it is widely used for its elegance, versatility, and fresh look,” says CSEM. “Despite this demand, no one was ever able to realize a truly white solar module; naturally believing that it was impossible as most of the light is reflected, contrary to the requirements of all solar panels.”

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“Any solar technology based on crystalline silicon can now be used to manufacture white -and coloured – modules,” said Professor Christophe Bellif, Vice-President Photovoltaics at CSEM. “White PV modules can also contribute to increase energy savings in buildings by keeping inner spaces cooler and reducing air conditioning costs. Several US cities have started to paint roofs white for the same reason. In a near future such actions could be replaced by the installation of white solar modules.”