|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, has spearheaded a groundbreaking achievement in clean energy by establishing a new efficiency benchmark for fully roll-to-roll printed solar cells. Collaborating with an international team, CSIRO scientists have successfully printed these solar cells onto thin plastic films, unlocking a lightweight and flexible solar technology that extends the application scope of solar cells.
This breakthrough promises to address the escalating demand for renewable energy by broadening the horizons of solar cell utilisation. Unlike conventional silicon solar panels known for their rigidity and weight, these printed solar cells offer high flexibility and portability, paving the way for innovative applications across various sectors including urban construction, mining, emergency management, space exploration, and personal electronics.
Dr Anthony Chesman, the Group Leader of CSIRO’s Renewable Energy Systems, highlighted the culmination of over a decade’s worth of research and development efforts leading to this milestone. He emphasised the transition of CSIRO’s thin and lightweight solar cells from lab prototypes to practical clean energy solutions, citing their record-breaking performance achieved across interconnected modules.
One of the key enablers of this achievement is roll-to-roll printing, a technique that allows solar cells to be manufactured on continuous rolls of plastic, significantly enhancing production efficiency. Dr Chesman emphasised the accessibility of this manufacturing method, particularly for Australian manufacturers, given its widespread adoption in the printing industry.
The collaboration involved researchers from leading institutions such as the University of Cambridge, Monash University, the University of Sydney, and the University of New South Wales, showcasing a collective effort towards advancing solar technology. Their findings have been published in the esteemed journal Nature Communications.
Dr Doojin Vak, a Principal Research Scientist at CSIRO, highlighted the integration of automation in producing and testing thousands of solar cells daily, a feat unattainable through manual methods. This automation facilitated the identification of optimal parameters for the roll-to-roll process, accelerating the optimisation journey.
These printed solar cells incorporate an advanced material known as perovskite, which distinguishes them from traditional silicon solar panels. Dr Vak underscored the versatility of perovskite, which can be formulated into inks and printed using industrial printers. Additionally, the substitution of expensive metals with specialised carbon inks has significantly reduced production costs.
Perovskite, a novel class of solar cell materials, presents a novel alternative to conventional silicon-based solar panels. Unlike traditional silicon cells, perovskite can be formulated into inks and printed using industrial printers, offering a cheaper and more energy-efficient manufacturing process. Its lightweight and flexible properties make it highly adaptable for various applications, ranging from portable device charging to integrated building materials.
The roll-to-roll printing technique employed in perovskite solar cell production enables continuous and large-scale manufacturing, akin to newspaper printing. Although roll-to-roll production of perovskite solar cells has been previously explored, limitations in efficiency and scalability have hindered widespread adoption. However, recent advancements have resulted in significant efficiency improvements, making commercially viable production of perovskite solar cells at scale increasingly feasible.
While perovskite solar cells may currently lag behind silicon panels in efficiency and longevity at scale, Dr Chesman emphasised the unique advantages of flexible panels. Their lightweight and flexibility enable easy transportation and deployment, even in challenging environments like space, where CSIRO recently conducted tests to evaluate their performance.
Looking ahead, CSIRO is actively seeking industry partnerships to further refine and commercialise this technology. The agency’s efforts have received funding from ARENA as part of its Research and Development Program – Solar PV Research.
CSIRO’s achievement in printed solar technology represents a significant step towards realising the potential of clean energy. By pushing the boundaries of solar technology, CSIRO is driving the transition towards a sustainable energy future, both in Australia and worldwide.
