Dye solar cell firm changes direction following investment

Dan Rogers - 18 Aug 2010

3G Solar, an Israel-based developer of dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSC), is moving into on-grid applications for its technology as part of a new ownership strategy.

The company's technology, created by president Jonathan Goldstein, was previously designed for remote power generation, particularly in the developing world. It will now be also designed for large-area, on-grid applications, says CEO Barry Breen.

He comments: '3G Solar is now going into new ownership, and will have a somewhat different direction.

'The company will put more emphasis on the on-grid applications, having previously prioritised remote power.'

The new ownership, which is investing an undisclosed amount, intends to employ newly accessible materials to make DSSCs more efficient and cheaper to produce, as part of a three-year R&D project.

'Our existing technology, in combination with new technologies we will be bringing in that have the potential to boost efficiency, will open up the entire market,' Breen adds.

Off-grid

Until now, DSSCs have largely been developed with lower power requirements in mind: for instance, as portable power sources for consumer electronics items.

Welsh DSSC firm G24 Innovations provided devices for integration into backpacks as part of a commercial release in October 2009.

3G Solar has also been preparing for remote power applications, such as devices to provide power to villages in the developing world lacking grid connection. The technology could be licensed to local manufacturers to produce.

However, the company will now apply new materials developed at an unnamed university laboratory to enhance 3G Solar's DSSCs and make large-area, on-grid use feasible.

'We intend to broaden the market, and we have the patience to go back to R&D and make the product appropriate for these new applications,' says Breen.

Further testing will need to be done over the next three years, while 3G Solar will work with its new investor - an unnamed figure from the energy industry - on a new commercialisation strategy.

Says Breen: 'During that R&D period, we will have time to work out the business details for this new market approach.'

+Plastic Electronics Volume 3, issue 2, will include a series of special features on the commercialisation of dye-sensitised solar cells. The magazine will also be appearing at the forthcoming 4th International Conference on the Industrialisation of Dye Solar Cells, 1-4 November 2010.

To subscribe in time for the next issue, visit our subscriptions page. For more information, email Editor Dan Rogers at daniel.rogers@pira-international.com.