The recycled plastic solar panel developed at the University of Pisa by a team of researchers coordinated by chemist Andrea Pucci is not a traditional photovoltaic panel (like those made of silicon), but features a different, circular economy technology.
It is based on a principle called luminescent solar concentrator and works like this :
- It is a transparent or colored sheet of recycled plastic (PMMA, i.e. regenerated plexiglass)
- Inside the plastic there are fluorescent molecules
- When sunlight hits the plate:
- the plastic absorbs light
- it “re-emits” it by guiding it internally towards the edges
- At the edges there are small silicon photovoltaic cells
- These cells transform concentrated light into electricity
In short: the plastic does not directly produce energy, but works as a “conveyor” of light towards the photovoltaic panels at the edges.
The innovation of this panel has several advantages:
Use recycled plastic instead of fossil fuels or glass
- Could be transparent and colored, therefore integrable into:
- windows
- shelters
- greenhouses
- building facades
It reduces CO₂ emissions by up to approximately 75% compared to traditional materials.
The project is a candidate for the 2026 Non Sprecare Award, in the Schools and Universities section. To submit your projects, follow the instructions here.
Cover image source: Unipinews
Read also:
- Why underwater solar panels work better than those exposed to the air
- Balcony photovoltaic systems: how much they cost and how to install them
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