An innovative way of capturing energy from the sun could increase the amount of power generated by solar panels.

The concept devised by engineers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), centres on a ‘solar concentrator’. The solar concentrator evolved from a similar idea developed in the 70’s that involved impregnating dyes in plastic. The idea was abandoned because, among other things, not enough of the collected light could reach the edges of the concentrator. The MIT engineers decided to apply this technique to its solar concentrator.

The MIT solar concentrator comprises a mixture of two or more dyes in specific ratios, which is painted onto the surface of a pane of glass or plastic. The dyes work together to absorb light across a range of wavelengths, which is the re-emitted at a different wavelength and transported across the pane to waiting solar cells.

Light is collected over a large area (like a window) and gathered, or concentrated at the edges. As a result, rather than covering a roof with expensive solar cells, the cells only need to be around the edges of a flat glass panel.

Jon Mapel, MIT, explains: “We made it so the light can travel a much longer distance. We were able to substantially reduce light transport losses, resulting in a tenfold increase in the amount of power converted by the solar cells.”

The team believes that the simplicity of the system to manufacture means that it could be implemented within three years, and has the potential to be added onto existing solar panels to increase their efficiency.”