Can white PV panels do the same as blue LEDs?

October 28, 2014
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

Developing and commercialising the blue LED led to the ongoing revolution in the lighting industry, something research facility CSEM wants to emulate with the development of a completely white solar panel.

Presenting at the 9th ENERGY FORUM conference on the building skins of the future ('advanced building skins'), researcher Jordi Escarre Palou and his team from the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM) showcased an all-white solar module with claimed efficiencies of over 10%. 

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

Escarre Palou said in a statement: “We achieve the highest efficiency level through a combination of crystalline high-performance solar cells with a film treated using nanotechnology, which only filters a particular wavelength of light through to the cell and reflects the visible spectrum as a diffuse illumination.”

The surface of the module is white, without a visible wafer structure seen beneath the surface. The solar cell technology used is tuned to convert infrared solar light into electricity that is boosted by a selective scattering filter, which scatters the whole visible spectrum while transmitting infrared light. 

The technology is said to be able to be applied on top of an existing module or integrated into a new module during assembly, on flat or curved surfaces. 

Not surprisingly, its main target market application is BIPV, yet other fields such as consumer electronics such as laptops (think Apple) as well as the automotive industry could be targeted. 

However, in respect to buildings and façades, many architects PV Tech has spoken to over many years prefer the colour grey. That said, white could become a preferred choice second to grey as it is seen by designers and architects as elegant, versatile, and provides a fresh look (think Apple).

Read Next

Premium
October 17, 2025
According to Ronak Maheshwari of CRC-IB, there has been a struggle for US renewable power projects to secure necessary equity .
October 17, 2025
Norwegian renewable energy firm Scatec has signed lease agreements for 64MW of solar PV and 10MWh of energy storage capacity in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
October 17, 2025
A group of over 20 US states are suing the Trump administration for the cancellation of the US$7 billion Solar For All Scheme.
October 16, 2025
Masdar and Turkey have entered the final stage of US$1 billion agreement to develop the 1.1GW plant in Bor, Niğde Province, central Turkey.
October 16, 2025
T1 Energy and Nextracker have agreed to use the latter’s steel module frames at the former’s new 5GW module manufacturing facility in Dallas.
October 16, 2025
US utility-scale solar additions grew by 56% in 2024, reaching 30GW from 2023’s 19GW and representing over 54% of all new electricity generation capacity added in the country last year.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
October 21, 2025
New York, USA
Solar Media Events
November 25, 2025
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
December 2, 2025
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK