Transparent solar panels

• 1-10% efficiency
• Lifespan of 25-35 years

If they reach their final form, transparent solar panels will be fully see-through sheets of solar material, mostly made of glass, that replace windows, roofs, and phone screens all over the world.

Right now, they’re behind other models in the industry.

These potentially ground-breaking creations are 30-40% transparent and severely lacking on the efficiency front, where they’re typically around five times worse than monocrystalline panels.

A handful of locations around the UK have used them, such as Gloucestershire County's Council Hall, Bournemouth University, and the Barbican Theatre in London, but unless their efficiency rises dramatically, they won’t be suitable for domestic properties.

Instead, they’re better used on large office blocks or even skyscrapers, where the sheer number of windows they can replace will produce enormous energy savings.