TRANSMIT, pushing the boundaries of PV technologies

Interview with Pedro Anacleto, coordinator of the project TRANSMIT

Pedro Anacleto - Staff Researcher at INL

We're on a mission to develop beautiful, high-efficiency, semi-transparent photovoltaics to be used as solar windows.

Solar cell technology is experiencing tremendous advancements, significantly impacting the development of Building-integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV). The segment is growing extremely fast and promises a solution for on-site renewable electricity, enabling zero-energy buildings.

In parallel, semi-transparent Photovoltaics (STPV) is an emerging technology that adds to windows power-generating capabilities, complementing existing BIPV technologies. However, the currently available STPV technologies provide low performance or an unpleasant viewing experience.

TRANSMIT is committed to delivering a ground-breaking, high-efficiency solution that is indistinguishable from the human eye.

Pedro Anacleto, Staff Researcher at INL, is the coordinator of the project.
In this piece, Anacleto delves into the mission of TRANSMIT and the impact it will have in a near future.

TRANSMIT, what is it all about?

PA - We're on a mission to develop semi-transparent photovoltaics (STPV) that can be used as "solar windows".

Imagine office windows that generate electricity while letting in plenty of natural light or residential skylights that power your home. At the same time, they block much of the incoming infrared radiation, helping to cool down the building interior and save on air conditioning electricity. Now imagine cities' skyscrapers covered with these "solar windows" producing most of the energy they consume on-site.

TRANSMIT focuses on developing an aesthetically pleasing STPV coupled with high-performance solar cell materials, such as CIGS and Perovskites, to maximize end-user adoption and integration into building windows. Our devices are composed of long and narrow solar cell lines separated from each other by a transparent gap. Hence, some light passes through while the other part is absorbed in the solar cell for light-to-electricity conversion.

The aesthetical improvement comes from making the solar cells very small, indistinguishable from the human eye from a certain distance, so the end-user does not really see them. Hence, these beautiful, high-efficiency photovoltaic devices are perfect for the built environment and represent a cost-effective way to reduce a building's carbon emissions and produce clean electricity, paving the way for future net-zero buildings.

Who is the team behind the scenes?

PA - The project involves a multidisciplinary team with expertise in photovoltaics (CIGS and Perovskites), microfabrication, material science, and energy modeling.

Key participants include the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) in Portugal, which contributes advanced microfabrication techniques essential for optimizing the CIGS-based semi-transparent photovoltaic (STPV) devices.

The Istituto Nazionale di Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali (INSTM) in Italy is crucial for its specialized knowledge in developing perovskite solar cells, adding a significant layer of innovation to the project.

The University of Cyprus (UCY) provides critical testing and validation of the STPV devices under realistic conditions, ensuring their practical viability.

Middle East Technical University (METU) in Turkey contributes significantly to energy modeling and socioeconomic impact assessments, which are essential for evaluating the project's broader implications.

Partners from Hungary, Bay Zoltán, add expertise in environmental sustainability, ensuring that the project's developments are both technologically advanced and ecologically responsible.

What is the expected impact and who will benefit from the results?

PA - We aim to develop high-efficiency STPVs with improved aesthetics by bringing together scientists from across Europe and pushing the boundaries of photovoltaic technologies.

Our achievements will spark interest from the scientific community and businesses capable of bringing exciting new products. This will speed up the journey from research to real-world applications.

Since space is a scarce and expensive resource, specifically in urban areas, there is little space for regular solar panels. However, buildings' windows represent the unexplored real estate for PV deployment, where the glass sits passively, waiting to be put to work. Because STPV will fit beautifully into building designs, it offers a fresh solution for architects and builders. Hence, picture tall office buildings, large airports, train stations, museums, shopping malls, households, etc., where large windows and facades produce electricity on-site.

We expect these devices to become a key component in construction as actual building blocks, appealing to everyone from engineers to homeowners.