Solar energy is set to make an increasing contribution to global energy needs into the future.  While traditional Si-based solar cells are well known, they are expensive to manufacture in terms of both energy and infrastructure.  The CSIRO, Australia's government research agency, has been working with university and industry partners under the Victorian Organic Solar Cell Consortium (VICOSC) to develop the capability to print thin-film solar cells onto plastic.  This technology offers several distinct advantages over traditional solar cells.  In particular, thin-film printed solar cells are light-weight, flexible, semi-transparent and inexpensive to manufacture.  This makes them well suited to a much wider range of applications than traditional Si, including integration into product packaging, servicing the energy needs of remote communities, and incorporation into the windows of skyscrapers.  The VICOSC consortium has become a world leader in the area of large-scale solar cell printing and is now well positioned to translate this work into products.  Our public engagement activities will also be discussed.

Powering the future with thin-film printed solar cells

248th National Meeting (2014)

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