An Italian company now has a solution for this problem. The new technology is called Invisible Solar and is incorporated into roof tiles that consist of a non-toxic, recyclable polymer compound that contains a photovoltaic cell. The surface of the tile looks opaque to the human eye but allows sunlight to pass through to power the cell. In short, it looks like a normal roof tile, but contains an integrated photovoltaic system that is invisible to the human eye.
The Invisible Solar roof tiles are mainly being used in Portugal and Italy as deceptively real-looking terracotta shingles, including atop historical buildings in Pompeii, in the small village of Vicoforte in Piedmont and on the roof of the MAXXI Museum for Contemporary Art in Rome. Other surfaces can also be mimicked, including wood, stone and concrete. Yet another advantage that Invisible Solar offers is that aside from the more traditional installations on rooftops, the technology will soon also be available for use in building façades, footpaths and driveways.
At present, these invisible panels are still relatively expensive for private use. However, at the municipal level, the full-surface conversion of solar energy could soon be possible without the need for any aesthetic compromises.
