COLOURS (Luminescent Solar Concentrators for Smart Urban Furniture) was a regional research and innovation project focused on the development of advanced luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) technology for energy generation in urban environments.

LSC devices consist of transparent polymer panels containing fluorescent compounds capable of absorbing sunlight and re-emitting it at different wavelengths. Due to the difference in refractive index between the polymer and air, much of the emitted light remains trapped inside the panel and is guided towards its edges, where conventional silicon solar cells can convert the concentrated light into electrical energy.

The project brought together an outstanding consortium of companies and research organizations with the objective of developing smart LSC panels specifically designed for urban applications.

COLOURS focused on:

• Designing and synthesizing new fluorescent dyes for luminescent solar concentrators.
• Optimizing dye dispersion within polymer matrices through careful selection of solvents and polymerization methods.
• Developing automated spectrophotometric quality-control procedures during manufacturing.
• Identifying the optimal dimensions of LSC panels for different applications and assembling complete LSC modules.
• Demonstrating the technology in smart urban infrastructure, such as bus shelters and building-integrated systems capable of powering sensors, wireless networks, and air-quality monitoring devices.

The final goal of the project was to integrate energy-generating luminescent solar concentrators into urban environments, enabling sustainable power generation and supporting Internet of Things (IoT) technologies for smart-city applications.