Solar coating breakthrough brightens solar potential

Utilizes the entire solar spectrum

There is interesting research coming out of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute that has the potential to make solar power significantly more cost-effective and efficient.

By covering solar cells with a new nanoengineered antireflective coating, "the amount of sunlight captured by solar panels to near-perfect levels (>96%) and allows those panels to absorb the entire solar spectrum from nearly any angle," according to GreenCarCongress.

That makes solar cells significantly more efficient and effective. It also means no solar tracking equipment is required. Since installation is a huge part of solar costs, simplifying - while making more efficient - the installation process could also help bring down solar costs.