Pilot project of a house covered in red solar panels is launched in Germany

The main focus of solar panels is to have great efficiency in the production of solar energy. But that is no longer the only important thing: since they will be placed on the roofs of houses, it is also becoming increasingly urgent that they have an aesthetic harmony with the rest of the building. That's why, in Germany, tests are being carried out with solar panels with a different look than we are used to.

The pioneer in this solar energy innovation was the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, which together with the module producer AxSun Solar, the company INTERPANE and the Municipality of Eppingen, developed a pilot project that uses a new technology to color solar panels. Called MorphoColor, this technology allows coloring solar panels without the use of pigments or paints.

How did butterflies influence the creation of new technology for solar panels?

The new technology for coloring solar panels was based on the optical effect that is generated by Blue Morpho butterflies. This insect's wings incorporate tiny scales that specifically reflect a wavelength range, and end up presenting a bluish tinge to human eyes.

So, inspired by this effect, the researchers developed a new technology consisting of a few elements, which were applied to the back of the glass covering the solar panels through a vacuum process. Thus, depending on the fine structure created, the glass can appear blue, green or red.

The new solar panels have an efficiency of 90% when compared to traditional ones

The new coloring technology is already being tested and was initially applied in green on the facade of the Fraunhofer ISE High Efficiency Solar Cell Center.

Now, a pilot project has been launched in the city of Eppingen, where red solar panels have been placed on a historic building, so that there is harmonization with the traditional tile and the reduction of the visual and aesthetic impact of this application.

In total, 224 solar modules with MorphoColor coating were used on both sides of the roof of the house facing east and west. However, as a negative point, the solar energy system installed with the technology of colored coating offers a total power of 66 kWp and an efficiency of 90% compared to traditional solar panels.