SolarPrint launches dye solar cell-powered wireless sensors

Dan Rogers - 11 Jan 2011

Irish dye-sensitised solar cell (DSSC) company SolarPrint has announced the launch of new energy harvesting technology for wireless sensors.

The DSSC devices mean that more ambient light can be gathered, for instance in indoor applications, and used to power sensor devices commonly used in buildings to monitor temperature, humidity, motion or light, for instance.

The technology enables the user to reduce the size of the sensor, or enhance the power provided to the sensor by 15% in its current format. SolarPrint believes that further gains can be made with future development.

Mazhar Bari, CEO of SolarPrint, comments on the product launch: 'The future of energy management within the built environment lies with the next generation of wireless sensors, which can harvest and store energy without the need for wires or costly maintenance.

'Our technology takes energy harvesting to the next level, converting even the lowest levels of light as low as 10 lux, or the darkest corner in an indoor space, into energy.'

Commercialisation

The launch is an early example of how DSSCs can be used in commercial applications.

SolarPrint has emphasised the need to commercialise DSSCs in the near future, to establish a market ahead of competing organic and inorganic solar technologies.

The company established plans for manufacturing facilities in Dublin by the second half of 2011, as reported by +Plastic Electronics in August 2010.

Early applications are expected to include integration into consumer electronics products.

Welsh DSSC firm G24 Innovations announced its plans to integrate solar cells into devices for home, office and retail environments in an exclusive interview with +Plastic Electronics in 2010 (see volume 3, issue 2).

The company has developed computer keyboards and mice, as well as other devices, with integrated DSSCs.