When most people imagine solar energy, they picture large, rigid panels on rooftops or vast solar farms in open fields. But a new generation of photovoltaic technology—organic solar cells (OSCs)—is changing that narrative, expanding the possibilities of where and how solar energy can be captured.

From the windows of high-rise buildings to the sunroofs of hybrid cars, from tent fabrics to portable vaccine refrigerators, OSCs are redefining solar power’s reach. As research accelerates in collaboration with leading universities and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), this flexible, lightweight, and versatile solar solution is quickly becoming a practical tool for distributed energy generation.

From Glass to Grid: Skyscrapers as Vertical Solar Arrays

In cities across the world, the most prominent architectural feature is the glass façade of skyscrapers. These surfaces, traditionally designed to reflect or absorb light for climate control, are now being repurposed as energy harvesters. Researchers at the University of Michigan, supported by the DOE, have developed transparent organic solar cells that integrate directly into commercial glass. While these panels carry a slight tint similar to sunglasses, they remain largely inconspicuous to the eye.

The innovation lies in their ability to capture near-infrared sunlight while maintaining transparency in the visible spectrum. These organic materials allow skyscrapers to passively generate electricity without altering their appearance, turning buildings into vertical solar farms. Though their energy output per square foot is modest, the total surface area of a high-rise building can yield significant energy, helping to offset lighting, HVAC, and other operational costs.

Beyond Buildings: Portable, Flexible, and Off-Grid Applications

What makes OSCs particularly transformative is their physical flexibility and adaptability. Unlike traditional silicon-based cells, which are rigid and heavy, OSCs can be manufactured on flexible substrates and printed in large rolls—opening the door to a wide array of novel applications.

These include:

• Tent fabrics and military shelters, where lightweight solar film can power devices in the field.

• Sunroofs for electric and hybrid vehicles, helping reduce battery load and extend range.

• Wearable electronics, such as backpacks or clothing that generate energy for small devices.

• Vaccine and medicine refrigeration units in off-grid areas, with OSCs providing just enough power to meet critical needs.

• Shipping-friendly solar kits, compact enough to be rolled up and delivered anywhere electricity is scarce.

As Malika Jeffries-EL of Boston University notes, OSCs have the unique ability to “bring power where power does not exist,” offering a decentralized energy source to remote and underserved communities.

How Organic Solar Cells Work—and Why They're Different

Organic solar cells convert sunlight into electricity using carbon-based molecules, rather than silicon crystals. When light hits the cell, it excites electrons within the organic material, which are then separated from their positive counterparts and driven toward electrodes, creating an electric current.

Early OSCs relied on fullerene-based electron acceptors—soccer-ball-shaped carbon molecules—that limited efficiency to around 10%. A major leap occurred with the development of non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs), enabling newer OSCs to achieve efficiencies of up to 18%. This places them within the lower range of commercial silicon solar panels, which typically operate between 18% and 22%.

Moreover, OSCs can be manufactured using low-temperature, roll-to-roll printing processes akin to newspaper production. This significantly reduces the energy required for production, giving OSCs a shorter “energy payback” period compared to silicon cells, which demand energy-intensive furnaces reaching 2,700°F.

Cost-Benefit Analysis: Where OSCs Excel

Organic solar cells are not designed to compete directly with silicon in large utility-scale installations. Instead, their value lies in their adaptability, aesthetics, and lower installation and transportation costs. Their benefits include:

• Lightweight and flexible form factors, ideal for curved or mobile surfaces.

• Customizable transparency and color, making them suitable for architectural applications like window integration.

• Less toxic and energy-intensive manufacturing, improving environmental impact and scalability.

• Shorter energy payback periods, accelerating ROI in suitable use cases.

For example, while a silicon panel may provide higher efficiency, it requires heavy racking systems and professional installation. By contrast, an OSC film can be affixed to a window or rolled out onto a temporary structure, with minimal infrastructure.

Challenges Ahead: Efficiency, Durability, and Policy Support

Despite promising advancements, OSCs still face several barriers to commercialization. The most pressing issues include:

• Durability and lifespan: Organic materials are sensitive to moisture, oxygen, and UV radiation, which can degrade performance over time.

• Toxic solvents: High-performing OSCs are often produced using chlorinated solvents, posing health and environmental risks unless safer alternatives are developed.

• Module-level efficiency losses: Lab-scale cell efficiencies do not always translate into large-scale modules due to electrical losses during assembly.

• Funding constraints: As emerging technologies like perovskites garner attention, U.S. federal funding for OSC research has declined, with China now leading in OSC R&D investment.

Bernard Kippelen of Georgia Tech emphasizes the need to shift focus from a single performance metric to a more holistic view of manufacturability, safety, and scalability. “We need an approach that goes well beyond just one number,” he says.

Reasons for Optimism: Tandem Cells and Global Need

Even with challenges, the progress in OSC efficiency has exceeded most expectations. The development of tandem OSCs, which layer multiple materials to capture different parts of the solar spectrum, could soon push efficiencies beyond 20%. This would place OSCs firmly in the realm of commercially competitive technologies.

With global energy demand rising—especially in developing nations—OSCs offer a lightweight, low-cost, and rapidly deployable solution. Their ability to deliver electricity in areas without infrastructure gives them unique social value, beyond the traditional metrics of efficiency or dollar-per-watt. As Georgia Tech’s Seth Marder puts it, “Solar technology is going to be around for a long time—and I truly believe OSC, with time, will establish itself as a really important technology.”

Organic solar cells may not replace silicon on rooftops or in large solar fields, but they offer something different—and arguably more impactful: a decentralized, low-cost, and flexible energy source that can go where silicon cannot. From the face of a skyscraper to the fabric of a jacket, OSCs are poised to light up the future in places we never imagined.