Photovoltaic panels and colored steel

Can photovoltaic panels be used as building elements?

Aesthetic aspects must be considered when photovoltaic panels are applied as building elements. Colours can be added by reflecting some of the sunlight that otherwise could have been utilized for electricity generation. Reflectance spectra of commercial solar cell modules have been measured and analysed.

What do photovoltaic panels look like?

Traditionally relegated to roofs, photovoltaic (PV) panels tend to have a uniform appearance: large black or dark blue rectangular pieces of shiny glass with metal frames.

Are black colored solar panels a good choice?

Although black colored PVs maximize energy generation by harvesting a broad range of solar light, their monotonous color limits their installation in urban areas and portable devices where the harmonization of color with neighboring exterior elements is a high priority.

Are solar panels made of different colored glass?

Although it may initially seem that the solar panels are made of different colored glass, the variations are actually created by the incidence of light and the angle from which they are seen, resulting in a dynamic facade that looks significantly different at midday and sunset.

Are coloured solar cells suitable for buildings?

For most buildings black surfaces are not desired, and only lighter and coloured solar modules will be considered. Efficient and aesthetically pleasing coloured solar cell modules therefore represent an important contribution towards more widespread use of BIPV in buildings.

Should solar farms be covered with black or blue solar panels?

However, harvesting energy from solar farms, implies covering large areas with standard black or blue solar modules, which is generally not well accepted by the stakeholders. If architectural coherence is to be preserved, building envelopes cannot simply be covered with black panels with visible cells and contact bars.