Organic Solar Cells Have Reached 12% Efficiency
Brilliant Matters and HeiQ demonstrated new semi-transparent, printable solar modules for industrial use.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Organic Food
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Brilliant Matters and HeiQ have developed semi-transparent organic solar cells that achieved a power conversion efficiency of 12.04%. These modules were created using roll-to-roll manufacturing processes with the goal of integrating electricity generation into light-transmitting surfaces.
Why it matters
The technology aims to provide a low-cost, flexible energy solution for applications that require both light transmission and power generation. The project utilizes fully printed modules to make sustainable energy integration more practical for diverse building and design surfaces.
Prototype cells achieved an average efficiency of 11.14% across a 0.04 cm² area, while printed modules reached 10.09% efficiency. The projected manufacturing cost for the modules is under $150 per square meter.
The players
Brilliant Matters
This Canadian-based company specializes in the development and production of organic materials for photovoltaic applications.
HeiQ
Headquartered in Switzerland, this entity focuses on developing functional textile technologies and material science innovations.
Forschungszentrum Jülich
This German research institution operates the Solar Factory facility used to demonstrate the scalability of the printing process.
The details
The development team utilized the BM10 organic PV platform paired with Xpectra silver nanowire electrodes to build the device stack. Forschungszentrum Jülich's Solar Factory integrated these components into flexible modules that support high-speed, roll-to-roll production methods.
Timeline
The technology development was announced on October 8, 2026.
Commercial availability is currently projected for 2028.
Culture Shift
This development represents a departure from traditional, rigid silicon-based solar panels toward a future of flexible, integrated energy generation surfaces. It reflects a wider shift toward sustainable, unobtrusive energy harvesting in architecture and consumer design.
The transition to printable, semi-transparent solar modules could eventually lower the cost of energy-generating building materials for homeowners and businesses. These flexible cells are designed to fit into everyday structures, potentially changing how buildings are designed for energy efficiency.
The takeaway
This breakthrough highlights how printing technologies are bridging the gap between complex laboratory physics and scalable industrial manufacturing. Readers should watch for future applications where energy harvesting materials become hidden components of everyday glass and building surfaces.
What happens next
The technology is expected to reach commercial availability by 2028 following the current phase of customer trials.
Further reading
For more information on the latest innovations in sustainable material technologies, visit the Organic Food section.
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