While optically transparent wood has been developed for microscopic samples in the study of wood anatomy, the KTH project introduces a way to use the material on a large scale. Transparent wood is a good material for solar cells, since it's a low-cost, readily available and renewable resource which becomes particularly important in covering large surfaces with solar cells. Professor at Wallenberg Wood Science Center at KTH, Lars Berglund says transparent wood panels can also be used for windows, and semitransparent facades, when the idea is to let light in but maintain privacy. Wood is by far the most used bio-based material in buildings. It's attractive that the material comes from renewable sources. It also offers excellent mechanical properties, including strength, toughness, low density and low thermal conductivity.