The high cost of solar photovoltaic installations prevents them from providing more than about 1% of the world's electricity requirement. A solution would be to incorporate an optical concentrator in the solar photovoltaic module that would save on expensive materials without compromising electrical output.

Optical concentrators focus solar energy on a small area attached to a photovoltaic cell (P. Gleckman et al. Nature 339, 198–200; 1989). However, this technology has been held back by its complex manufacturing and assembly processes, its modest electrical-conversion efficiency and a lack of government funding and policy.

Researchers, industries and governments must work together to resolve the technical issues associated with this promising technology and come up with a practical, industry-ready design to revive the solar energy market.