Colored Solar Panels Don't need Direct Sunlight

Solar power technology is about to take a giant step forward. Scientists in Jerusalem have developed panels that don’t need direct sunlight in order to produce power.

The new panels contain fluorescent dyes and nanoparticle metals which can generate power using only diffused light. They also happen to be much cheaper to produce, costing half the price of traditional panels as they use less silicone.

Scientists still have a ways to go. Right now the new panels only have a 14% efficiency rating, a far cry from the world’s best panels which have a 43% rating. Still, the technology seems to hold lots of promise.

[Via inhabitat]