Researchers develop transparent solar cells that can supply energy from glass on buildings and cars — here's how it works

Scientists have been hard at work on the question of solar glass that can generate energy from a clear window. Now a new type of clear solar cell is poised to supply energy through everything from windows to smartphone screens, Interesting Engineering reports.

The new method, Seamless Modularization Technology, was developed by a research team affiliated with UNIST and led by Professor Kwanyong Seo. It involves an "all-back-contact" design that places all the solar cell components at the back, leaving the glass clear and unobstructed.

The result was a module about two and a half square inches in size. The modules can be connected without using opaque wires, a weakness of earlier designs that created interruptions in the clear glass. The module has a high efficiency, listed at 14.7%, making it suitable for everyday use.