Fraunhofer ISE develops scalable semitransparent organic solar modules

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE and the University of Freiburg have achieved a breakthrough in scaling semitransparent organic photovoltaic (PV) modules. Using industrially viable slot-die coating and sputtering processes, the team successfully applied all solar cell layers with minimal loss.

The developed modules, measuring 14.5 by 14.5 centimeters, achieved an efficiency of up to 9.26% with an average transparency of 43.2% in the visible spectrum. This technology is particularly relevant for applications where solar cells act as translucent building elements, such as building facades, greenhouses, or tinted glass surfaces, rather than traditional rooftop systems.

Dr. Uli Würfel, head of the Organic and Perovskite Photovoltaics department at Fraunhofer ISE, noted that scaling up to large areas is a major challenge for organic photovoltaics, as laboratory results often fail to translate directly to industrial manufacturing processes.