The conference brought firms such as G24 Innovations (G24i), Sony and SolarPrint together to discuss the route to industrialisation for the emerging dye-sensitised solar cell (DSSC) technology.
The event also hosted a number of materials suppliers for DSSC production, indicating the recent maturity of the entire supply chain for the solar technology.
Welsh DSSC firm G24i outlined its plans for products such as solar-powered computer accessories, while Irish company SolarPrint presented on its goal to integrate dye cells into consumer electronics devices in the near future.
Cost
Other companies such as Fujikura suggested that further work was needed to reduce the production cost of the solar cells before applications could be considered on any commercial scale. Yet the overriding message of the event was that industrialisation needs to happen soon, before other solar technologies become more compelling options for brand owners considering new energy harvesting tools for their products.
The technology received significant attention earlier this year after Michael Grätzel of Switzerland's École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne won the Millennium Technology Prize for his research into DSSCs.
Speaking at the conference, Grätzel highlighted the latest research advances in the solar technology, and also pointed to the launch in October 2009 of bags with integrated DSSCs as an example of the commercialisation of the technology.
However some of the most popular topics of discussion and questions for presenters were on manufacturability, production cost and performance in the field, suggesting that the dye cell industry is growing increasingly aware of the need to deliver commercial products.
A review of DSC-IC 2010 and more news from the event will feature in the next issue of +Plastic Electronics. To subscribe in time for the next issue email publications@pira-international.com or visit the subscription page.
Documents and links
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Subscribe to +Plastic Electronics magazine
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External Link
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DSC-IC 2010
Webpage for the 4th International Conference on the Industrialisation of Dye Solar Cells
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Dye-sensitised solar cell company entering commercial manufacturing
SolarPrint, an Irish dye-sensitised solar cell (DSSC) manufacturer, has announced plans to produce its devices on a commercial scale
External Link
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Dye solar cell firm changes direction following investment
3G Solar, an Israel-based developer of dye-sensitised solar cells, is moving into on-grid applications for its technology as part of a new ownership strategy
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First commercial product for organic solar cell
Welsh OPV firm G24 Innovations is shipping its solar cells for use in a range of bags for consumer electronics
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The Future of Flexible and Thin-Film PVs
Technology forecasts to 2019, published by IntertechPira
External Link