SOLAR POWER TECHNOLOGY:DUBLIN-based printable solar cell company SolarPrint is working on concepts that could see large arrays of its cells – which can produce electricity in low light – incorporated into table tops, in window blinds or fixed onto the sides of buildings or the sunshades and façades that cover entrances to buildings.
“Our technology can work in ambient – not very bright – light, and in typical Irish weather conditions. Normal solar cells cannot achieve the same efficiency in these conditions and are therefore less cost-effective. Ours will give a faster payback time, which is a key consideration when investing in energy efficiency,” says director Roy Horgan.
Meanwhile, inside buildings, the company’s three-volt modules can power wireless sensors that will help offices, factories and commercial and public buildings reduce their energy consumption, their electricity bills and carbon footprints.
The electricity consumption of all buildings – residential, public and commercial – accounts for about 47 per cent of all power used in Europe and the US. It is a “low-hanging fruit” – a relatively cheap and simple way of reducing carbon emissions – compared to multi-billion investments being made in wind, marine and solar photovoltaic energy.
According to industry estimates, the market for smart energy management for buildings will be worth more than €53 billion over the next 10 years. Cleantech market intelligence firm Pike Research estimates that global sales of intelligent lighting controls will double, and will be worth more than €2 billion by 2016.
SolarPrint’s cells are currently being tried out by 20 companies, one of which is a US semiconductor firm with operations here and overseas and a $15 billion (€10.7 billion) annual turnover.
Compared to the solar cells commonly found on calculators, in customer trials its cells provide between 35 and 300 per cent more power. This has been achieved by changing how the cells are produced. Instead of injecting liquids between two ultra-thin plates of glass, a printable gel is used. This process enables manufacturing to be automated with a high degree of quality control and in high volumes, which brings down production costs.
While a small production line beside its Dublin offices will have the capacity to produce up to 20,000 cells a year, the company is currently in talks with prospective high-volume manufacturing partners.
“We aim to keep manufacturing in Ireland, but it is possible that not all of it will be done here,” Horgan admits.
The firm will also be collaborating to provide solar power for a Fiat concept car as part of an EU FP7 project. SolarPrint currently employs 22 people, including engineers, a graphic designer and an astrophysicist.
