Transparent Solar Cells?

According to this article linked here, “advances in transparent solar cells mean that soon we might be able to install them into windows and greenhouses.”

I’m dubious. The parts of the electromagnetic spectrum that solar panels use are 7% ultraviolet, 46% visible, and 47% infrared.  This means that if you let the visible light pass through, you’re losing 46% of your efficiency.

It’s actually not quite that simple, though it’s close.  Plants don’t utilize the complete visible light spectrum (380 – 750 nm), but they do use the upper part of the UV spectrum.