A transparent polymer sticker on the face of solar panels increases efficiency by 10%

16-Aug-10

A polymer sticker comprised of microstructures that bend incoming sunlight has been developed by Genie Lens Technologies. The microstructures were designed by studying the way light rays behave as the enter the sticker and then the solar panel. The polymer sticker performs three major functions: It prevents light from reflecting off solar panels, it traps light inside the semiconductor materials of the solar panel which convert the rays into electricity and it disperses the light as it encounters the semi-conductor materials so it has a larger chance of being absorbed. The technology is cheap and, unlike other designs aimed at improving solar panel efficiency, this technology can be applied to existing panels. Tests from the United States National Renewable Energy Laboratory show the company's thin-film stickers increase the power output of solar panels by between 4% and 12.5%.