OPV accessories to enter outdoor wear market

Dan Rogers - 26 Jan 2010

Organic photovoltaic (OPV) accessories could enter markets such as outdoor wear soon, with solar cell producer Konarka speaking to potential partner companies.

The positive customer response to the first commercially available OPV bags using Konarka's Power Plastic, Neuber's Energy Sun Bags, could justify expansion into further collaborations with outdoor wear firms.

Dan Williams, VP of product development at Konarka, adds: 'The textile industry is a host for carrying this technology in and that's definitely a business.

'There are several US, European and even Asian bag companies. At least a dozen worldwide are interested in Konarka's material to implement into their bags: backpacks, messenger bags, athletics and the like. Any of the top companies you can think of are definitely interested and talking to Konarka.'

A number of companies already offer solar cell bags, such as Butterfly Bags and Suitcases and Enon Dynamic Tech in China, while sportswear firm O'Neill released a PV bag in 2005. OPVs could provide a cheaper alternative to silicon devices.

The OPVs are also being considered for integration into the outdoor clothing itself.

Williams adds: 'For the outdoor wear, similar to the bag companies, many top outdoor wear makers are in touch with Konarka and discussions continue on how they might integrate Power Plastic into their material. Konarka has already proven it can be done with various military projects where they have used the material for wearables.'

Market share

German bag distributor Neuber's has seen monthly turnover increases of three-figure percentages since it launched its Energy Sun Bags in September 2009, according to MD Jürgen Neuber.

And the company sees further growth in the current year. Sales coordinator Mareike Friedrich states: 'We will ship at least 100,000 bags in 2010, a growth of more than 100% on previous years.'

Neuber's predicts that applications in outdoor wear and also automotive applications could take shape in the next two years, following positive customer response.

Williams explains: 'For the automotive markets, I think companies like Neuber's and others can leverage their bag offerings as value-added items that automotive companies could provide with their cars, or as accessories. That would be more of a marketing tool that bag companies already tap into - but now with the solar aspect it would be more appealing to certain types of cars and car buyers.'

Culture change

The rapid expansion of the OPV accessories market suggests consumers could change their perspective on how power for portable electronics is generated. In an article for +Plastic Electronics, Williams predicted a shift towards 'personal power' that would replace the conventional reliance on grid-connection.

However in November 2009, Solarcoating Machinery's MD Thomas Kolbusch suggested that OPV developers would need to prove their operation in high-volume markets such as rooftop usage, which would involve competing with more efficient, inorganic PVs.

While Neuber's is capitalising on early demand for OPV accessories, competing products from Concord Keystone and Scratch tracks - which use OPVs from Welsh solar firm G24 Innovations - mean that the market may become competitive in the near future.