Saule Technologies to launch inkjet-printed perovskite solar cells prototype production line in Q4 2019 leading to commercialization
Solar technology company based in Poland, Saule Technologies, a pioneer in the development of solar cells based on perovskites by inkjet printing them on ultra-thin, flexible foils, announced it has reached the point of technology development to be able to print its flexible, lightweight, semi-transparent, single junction solar modules with a consistent 10% efficiency.
This performance already enables building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) and Internet-of-Things (IoT) applications in an economically viable manner. By the end of March, Saule Technologies has also reached as high as 17.6% efficiency at the cell level (measured by an independent research institute).
Saule Technologies reports the durability has also been significantly improved, with the latest stability tests indicating multiple years of flawless operation under accelerated ageing tests.
The company states that combining these significant improvements in terms of both efficiency and endurance is an outstanding achievement for a target single junction product of such a multitude of potential applications, with still huge room for improvement.
Olga Malinkiewicz, Saule Technologies CTO and Founder commented:
“These results are a fantastic achievement of our first class, international R&D team working at the Technology Park in Wrocław. We are incredibly excited with these results especially since Q4 2019 will see the launch of our prototype production line, which will be a modular system of printers targeting the pilot production capability of 40,000 square meters/annum. If we can achieve these results in our detached printer laboratory, then transposing this out of the Lab into the Production Line should see even more progress. Ultimately next year, we plan to expand the line printing capability to 200,000 square meters/annum if the technology transfer goes according to the plan.”
Saule Technologies is scheduling the launch of its prototype line during Q4 of 2019, capable of printing solar modules up to an area of 1 square meter.
This achievement is expected to lead to the first commercial sales planned under a Go-to-Market strategy based on securing offtake and creating the market via numerous Joint Development Agreements (“JDA”) in negotiation, similar to the BIPV JDA with Skanska, which resulted in the demonstrator panel being installed on the Skanska commercial skyscraper in Warsaw, Poland.
Malinkiewicz further underlined:
“The Skanska demonstrator was printed in the Lab in Wrocław and is constructed out of 54 individually printed panels. Imagine what we will be able to do with the modular prototype line when it is installed.”
An autonomous Bluetooth beacon powered by a perovskite solar module. © Saule Technologies.
These accomplishments will enable the integration of Saule Technologies’ solar modules into windows, facades, rooftops, or vehicles.
Critically, the company’s flexible strategy is also targeting the IoT market, which is expected to reach an immense size of 1567 billion EUR by 2025.
Saule Technologies’ products are ideally placed due to their excellent low light/indoor performance, providing strong support for expanding the traditional PV usage (indoor and outdoor). Due to its proprietary technology, the company offers product implementation cost-effectively without compromising performance.
David Forgacs, Director of Knowledge Management added:
“We have seen increased interest from global IoT players – telecommunication companies, sensor manufacturers, and technology giants – as IoT solutions become commercially attractive. Low- and indoor lighting conditions mean higher power conversion efficiency and longer technical life for perovskite solar cells. Our products are targeting to enable fully autonomous IoT devices, eliminating the need to regularly replace batteries.”
Saule Technologies is one of the first companies in the world working on the commercialization of perovskites in the new generation of photovoltaic cells. The company has pioneered the application of ink-jet printing for the fabrication of flexible, light-weight, semi-transparent and efficient perovskite solar modules. Currently, Saule Technologies is a team of 39 from 13 countries working in one of the most advanced optoelectronics laboratories in Europe, to develop cost-competitive and versatile solar energy harvesting technology.
Source: Press Release by Saule Technologies. Photo credit: A 1 m² inkjet-printed, flexible solar module (visualization). © Saule Technologies.
