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Following our scoping work we identified a range of oppurtunities for the Carbon Trust to accelerate UK breakthroughs in advanced, low-cost photovoltaic technology and launched a competitive process to select the most suitable projects.
To kick-start this initiative, we hosted a one-day workshop at the Institute of Directors back in February 2007. Leading UK and international researchers in photovoltaic materials, devices and systems joined around 30 representatives from related industries; ranging from major global chemicals companies to innovative technology start-ups with novel techniques applicable to the manufacture of solar cells.
Following the workshop we received 15 Expressions of Interest, describing programmes of research worth over £70m, from consortia including over 60 different organisations.
After a thorough evaluation of the 15 Expressions of Interest we received, we shortlisted proposals from five consortia for further evaluation.
We worked with these consortia to develop full proposals, including developing detailed work programmes and both market and technical assessments. The shortlisted proposals covered three distinct technology areas, each with the potential to deliver breakthrough reductions in the cost of solar energy: reel-to-reel processing of organic polymer-based PV; deposition of inorganic thin-films on flexible substrates; and PV coatings for rolled steel cladding and roof products.
Current Research Accelerator progress
On 4th October 2007 we announced the team led by Cambridge University with The Technology Partnership (TTP) as the preferred bidders to deliver an Advanced PV Research Accelerator.
This investment aims to accelerate the deployment of large-scale, cost-effective applications of advanced PV materials both in the UK and abroad by combining intellectual property, scientific expertise and manufacturing excellence. A core aim is to create modules with five per cent efficiency and a lifetime of five years that can be manufactured on a roll-to-roll web up to one metre wide. Rather than basic materials or device development, the initiative will focus on the in-line, roll-to-roll manufacturing processes required to fabricate organic solar cells. Within ten years, the aim is for these plastic solar cells to be delivering 1GW of power, equivalent to carbon dioxide savings of more than 1 million tonnes per year.
There is an excellent opportunity to draw on the strengths and expertise of the emerging cluster of organic electronics companies in the Cambridge area and elsewhere in the UK. The initiative will also build on existing relationships with materials and substrate suppliers, as well as seeking new application and product development partners.
Currently the Accelerator is underway and research work has addressed significant technical challenges; the project is on track to deliver on its technical objectives in roll-to-roll OPV processing.
Please contact us at directed.research@carbontrust.co.uk or the project directly to find out more: Dr Peter Brown (TTP): peter.brown@ttp.com.
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