Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) developed a translucent solar panel to allow certain light spectrums to pass through that are optimal for crop growth. These advances are making solar technology more powerful, affordable, and versatile, accelerating the adoption of solar energy technology across residential, commercial, and utility-scale projects. It is designed using transparent organic materials rather than opaque silicon semiconductors used in conventional solar panels. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Transparent. Researchers at the U. In the experiment, known as “No Photon Left Behind,” scientists tested the efficacy of a. These are transparent solar panels that can literally generate electricity from windows—in offices, homes, car's sunroof, or even smartphones. Researchers at Michigan State.