With ACAP support, Australia's national science agency CSIRO has commissioned a roll-to-roll (R2R) coater and lamination machine for the fabrication of flexible photovoltaic (PV) films.
The $6.8 million facility is the culmination of more than a decade’s worth of research and will help meet the growing demand for renewable energy across sectors.
It is housed in a climate-controlled workspace adjacent to the existing Flexible Electronics Laboratory at CSIRO’s Clayton campus. It is a comprehensive facility for the pilot-scale production of printed PV films and the demonstration of novel PV applications where traditional rigid and heavy silicon solar technology is not suitable. The lightweight solar cells are made by printing ink onto thin plastic films.
CSIRO researchers have led an international team to deliver a new efficiency record for fully roll-to-roll printed flexible solar cells. The solar cells contain perovskite, an emerging class of solar material which can be formulated into inks for printing.
The team demonstrated performances for solar cells of 15.5% efficiency on a small scale and 11% for a 50 cm2 module, which is a record for fully printed solar cells.
ACAP and CSIRO's roll to roll PV film printing facility will help move the team’s roll-to-roll solar cell printing technique and flexible perovskite solar cell technology to commercial readiness.
Appropriate uses for flexible PV films may include being situated on structures which cannot bear weight, or where solar power needs to be deployed and transported quickly (such as disaster relief), portable applications, or in space.
ACAP and the CSIRO Printable PV Team are seeking partners in industry
Dr Anthony Chesman, ACAP Node Leader and Leader of CSIRO’s Renewable Energy Systems Group said at the facility's launch, "This printed solar technology unlocks entirely new applications for affordable, versatile and sustainable energy generation."
CSIRO’s innovative solar cells are made using an advanced material called perovskite, which is printed on long continuous rolls of flexible film.
"Our new system is highly automated.The multiple printing and laminating steps are performed in a single continuous operation, which significantly cuts down on production costs and the upfront investment needed to get started,” Dr Chesman said.
“Our team has also developed an automated system that can produce as many as 14,000 test solar cells a day to fine-tune their design and performance.
“We’re looking for partners who want to join us on the R&D journey and ultimately take this technology to market.
“Our industry partners will gain access to both our cutting-edge equipment and our team of world-class scientists with their deep expertise in solar technology.”
In addition to printed flexible solar, the lab is equipped to explore other fields that use printable materials for battery and hydrogen technologies, opening doors to a wider range of innovative applications.
The infrastructure is available to ACAP members via collaboration with CSIRO Printable PV Team. Commercial and other prospective partners with an interest in collaboration activities are encouraged to get in touch with Dr Mei Gao (mei.gao@csiro.au).
Read more about ACAP's suite of cutting edge research and development facilities.
Read more about Industry Partnerships with ACAP.
Opmerkingen