The Shard is a unique creation that demonstrates the possibilities of upcycling broken solar cells. The guiding principle for this module is to use damaged solar cells that would typically be discarded. The broken cells are scanned and then connected in a way that maximizes the energy yield. The cells are arranged in a pattern that is far from the standardized look of traditional solar panels. The resulting composition is a new picture that challenges our understanding of what a solar module can look like. The module's density and transparency can be varied, creating a range of visual effects that are as beautiful as they are innovative.

Traditional solar panel manufacturing processes create a significant amount of waste, including broken and discarded solar cells. Upcycling broken solar cells is not without its challenges. To make a module like the Shard work, it's necessary to match cell parts with similar sizes. This can be a difficult process, as broken cells often vary greatly in size and shape. But despite these challenges, the Shard sheds light on a pressing issue: The urgently needed reduction of waste material.

This module is one of the prototypes developed during the Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) Workshop at ETH Zurich, during which the students had the opportunity to freely assemble, glue, cut, laminate, solder and play with these materials, while creating new future visions for solar applications.