Printed PVs to power new Saudi cities

Joe Thompson - 04 Sep 2009

Solterra, a quantum dot (QD) solar cell developer in the US, has started building its first solar production plant in Jeddah City, in Saudi Arabia.

Large volumes of printed QD solar cells will be used in large-area grid applications by companies in the Middle East construction market.

The Saudi Arabian government is building six new, cosmopolitan cities over the next 10 years. Jeddah itself is planned to be refurbished, but the new King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) and the Knowledge Economic City (KEC) will be powered by a modern, sustainable, PV grid system and segments of this will employ Solterra's QD technology.

Steve Squires, CEO of Solterra, says mass production will begin in Q1 2010: 'There are several solar module manufacturers ready and waiting to transfer our printed cells into large area devices. We expect to start shipping at the end of Q1.'

Billion dollar project

The Saudi government has allocated around $500 (€351) billion dollars to build the five cities and, according to Squires, Saudi Arabia is a viable entry market, as it is where much of Solterra's first customers will be based.

Squires says: 'We believe the QD cells will lead the global solar industry. The technology can provide sustainable electricity for long-term use because it has the capacity to meet the huge demand for renewable resources.'

The company has modified a flexo-based, roll-to-roll print system to produce large volumes of its solar cells. 'The printing equipment is fast and can produce as many watts in a day as a typical solar cell manufacturer does in a month,' he explains.

Global consumer electronics developers are also expected to produce Solterra's technology next year. The majority of customers are grouped in Europe and Asia - customers mainly plan to use the devices to supplement existing power devices.

Squires says that once the solar side of the business is up and running, the firm will target the display market. Solterra can supply printable materials for making flexible low-cost displays that could be used in packaging and clothes.