Printed flexible solar tech now a reality with new CSIRO facility
The CSIRO has opened a $6.8m facility in Clayton, Victoria, for its printed flexible solar technology to meet the demand for renewable energy.
Unlike traditional silicon solar panels, CSIRO’s flexible solar cells are printed on thin plastic films, making them lightweight, portable and suitable for various applications across urban construction, space, defence, mining, emergency management, disaster relief and wearables.
CSIRO executive director, digital, national facilities and collections Professor Elanor Huntington says the cutting-edge CSIRO printed photovoltaic (PV) facility is the newest addition to the organisation’s suite of critical infrastructure enabling industries of tomorrow – in this case, the flexible solar manufacturing industry.
“Through CSIRO’s new printed PV facility, industry partners can access both researcher expertise and specialised equipment to improve and apply flexible solar technology in novel ways, anywhere there is sunlight,” she said.
“It’s exciting to see the techniques that enabled another great CSIRO invention to now be available to partners in industry to make a difference in Australia and globally.
“This not only offers incredible opportunities for Australian manufacturers but also contributes to addressing global energy challenges and advancing the transition to net zero.”
CSIRO’s Renewable Energy Systems Group leader Dr Anthony Chesman says printed flexible solar is not intended to replace silicon rooftop panels but rather to complement them.
“This printed solar technology unlocks entirely new applications for affordable, versatile and sustainable energy generation,” he said.
CSIRO’s innovative solar cells are made using an advanced material called perovskite, which is printed on long continuous rolls of flexible film.
“Our new system is highly automated,” Dr Chesman said.
“The multiple printing and laminating steps are performed in a single continuous operation, which significantly cuts down on production costs and the upfront investment needed to get started.
“Our team has also developed an automated system that can produce as many as 14,000 test solar cells a day to fine-tune their design and performance.
“We’re looking for partners who want to join us on the R&D journey and ultimately take this technology to market.
“Our industry partners will gain access to both our cutting-edge equipment and our team of world-class scientists with their deep expertise in solar technology.”
In addition to printed flexible solar, the lab is equipped to explore other fields that use printable materials for battery and hydrogen technologies, opening doors to a wider range of innovative applications.
