Scientists have developed a way to print solar cells that could transform the way we power our lives. The reason this innovation holds such potential is because of its scalability. Whilst solar energy must still overcome barriers such as storage, the efficiency of the cells and funding limitations, innovations such as printed solar cells are bringing renewable energy closer to the people and the communities that need a new way of powering their lives.

Imagine a world where materials could charge electronic devices using the power of the sun. The Victorian Organic Solar Cell (VICOSC) project is working on the development of a material that does just that. From laptop cases that charge smartphones in the sun, to tinted windows on our city’s skyscrapers powering the national grid, the possible applications for this technology are endless.

VICOSC is the result of collaboration between researchers from CSIRO, Bosch, BlueScope Steel, Innovia, the University of Melbourne and Monash University and together they have developed solar ink that could replace any plastic surface and turn an object into a power generator that can bolster renewable energy contributions and redefine our relationship with power.

Developed as a semi-transparent, thin film with solar cell technologies embedded into the surface, the solar cells can be printed using modified printers that previously manufactured the plastic Australian dollar banknotes. Less than one millimetre thick and held down with double-sided sticky tape, the printed panels are similar in texture to a potato chip packet and can be produced for less than $10 per square metre.

The reason this innovation holds such potential is in its scalability. As these solar ink panels can be printed, they represent a cheap and reliable means of generating energy by manufacturing a mass quantity of cells. Conventional silicon solar cells must be manufactured in airtight vacuum sealed chambers and dust free rooms which significantly drive up the cost of manufacturing. Since printed solar cells can be manufactured at atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature, not to mention the low cost of commercial ink jet printers, it means they are much cheaper to produce. As University of Newcastle Australia professor Paul Dastoor explains; “The low cost and speed at which this technology can be deployed is exciting as we need to find solutions, and quickly, to reduce demand on base-load power. These [solar ink] materials are so cheap to make, manufacture and install that when you calculate the total cost of energy when manufacturing at scale, it’s going to give you a competitive product.” As a result, it would be easy for companies to sell energy “plans” for consumers to sign up in the same way they do with mobile phones. Consequently, Dastoor believes that “over time, our current picture of how we view solar energy and cells is going to fundamentally change.”

The breadth of applications for printed solar cells is immense. Traditional roof solar panels are made from slabs of silicon, but using organic molecules that capture energy from sunlight means the molecules could be formulated as inexpensive printable inks easily applied to regular building components such as windows. For example, Derya Baran and a team at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Solar Center have developed a photovoltaic organic material that captures light efficiently and could potentially be coated on building materials turning buildings into their own power sources.

They could also be applied to consumer electronic devices to replace the need for external power sources to recharge, military and emergency devices to improve efficiency and portability, powering people’s own homes and cars as well as integration across large-scale utility – powering factories and industry through the power of the sun alone.

By being able to cover large surfaces at very low cost, solar ink technologies represent a viable source of renewable energy technology. Indeed, by being able to print solar ink directly onto surfaces like rooftops or glass windows at low cost, these solar panels would be easy to deploy in less developed countries, offering energy independence and a clean alternative to a much wider span of people than current commercial solar technologies. Currently, over 1 billion people, primarily lack access to electricity, and hundreds of millions more live with unreliable electricity. Moreover, 3 billion people worldwide are forced to rely on polluting fuels like wood, charcoal, and animal waste to cook and heat their homes. Bringing solar power to these communities could transform their well-being and bolster local economies.

The progress of solar energy innovations, many utilising the digital advances of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, is testament to the commercial and ecological benefits this form of renewable energy could bring. Whilst solar energy must still overcome barriers such as storage, efficiency of the cells and funding limitations, innovations such as printed solar cells are bringing renewable energy closer to the people and the communities that need a new way of powering their lives.



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