So-called organic solar cells, which, unlike the current silicon-based models, are flexible and can be made into all kinds of shapes, are about to go into mass production: a German start-up and the Japanese Ricoh group are preparing for industrial production – and can use photovoltaics – Revolutionize the market with the new cells.
This is reported by the Japanese business newspaper Nikkei. Ricoh will start mass production on a small scale in fiscal year 2023. The German start-up Heliatek also wants to start mass production this year, in the first phase they want to produce 600,000 square meters of flexible solar cells per year. Production will later be increased to 1.1 million square meters.
Less efficient but sustainable and cheap
Organic solar cells are made by applying photovoltaic material to a flexible carrier, usually plastic foil or another flexible substrate. At 10 to 15 percent, they are not as efficient as conventional solar panels, but would be cheaper to produce and their lifespan (20 years or more) longer. The flexible cells should also contain fewer pollutants.
The fact that they have no performance loss indoors makes them interesting as a power supplier for smart home technology or small consumers such as remote controls. Weight saving also speaks in favor of organic solar cells. Heliatek’s solution currently weighs about two kilograms per square meter – the weight is expected to decrease as the technology matures.
Usable where silicon cells reach their limits
On a larger scale, organic solar cells could therefore be used wherever classical silicon modules would be too heavy or, because they are not flexible, could not be placed at all. Heliatek thinks, for example, of domed roofs or industrial buildings. Here, organic solar cells – they can even be colored in as desired – would make use of spaces that were previously unusable for generating energy.
Heliatek’s vision: In the future, every conceivable building – not just the roofs, see the video – could be equipped with the flexible solar cells to contribute to the production of sustainable energy. Whenever possible, silicon solar panels should be used because of their higher efficiency. In many scenarios, the advantages of organic solar cells – low weight, flexible use, long life, low price – could speak in their favour.
More sustainable than perovskite solar cells
The organic cells also have advantages over the equally promising perovskite solar cells – krone.at reported: They are said to be more durable and it is also hoped that there will be more flexibility in production. Background: Estimates of the number of materials potentially useful for organic solar cells run into the hundreds of thousands, compared to only a handful for perovskite cells.
The industry hopes for a fast-growing market: according to market researcher Fuji Keizai, the world market for organic solar cells could increase fivefold to half a billion dollars by 2035.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
