UV Solar Panel

A new solar panel has been invented that can produce energy even when the clouds roll in. Known as AuREUS (Aurora Renewable Energy and UV Sequestration), the new technology could represent a huge breakthrough for the widespread adoption of an abundant and renewable source of energy.

Anyone who has gotten sunburned on a cloudy day knows that ultraviolet (UV) light is present even when the sun isn’t shining. The inventor exploited this fact and designed an organic luminescent resin that absorbs UV light and converts it to visible light. The resin — made from fruit and vegetable crop waste — is then combined with a solar cell that converts the visible light to electricity. The resulting transparent lime green panels can line windows or roofs to create power-generating buildings. A single 2-foot by 3-foot section generates enough power to charge two cell phones.

The concept may also be adapted to make textiles that generate their own power for sensors and personal electronic devices. Taking solar energy from large-scale solar farms and putting it directly in the hands of the consumer will be a big step toward energy independence. The technology received the James Dyson Award 2020 for Sustainability.