Commercial polymer solar cells for stand-alone applications
This project will commercialize polymer solar cells for stand-alone applications. Mekoprint A/S and DTU
Energy Conversion will take polymer solar cells to a stage, where their unique properties can be used in
products such as a self powered wireless sensor made as a sticker. This stage is a step towards bulk
energy production.
This project is the third phase in a series of EUDP projects aiming for commercialization of polymer solar
cells. Through previous projects, the first commercial production line for polymer solar cells has been
established and the market potential has been probed through the use of demonstrators.
The goal for this project is to develop competitive polymer solar cells for stand-alone products. This
requires a module power conversion efficiency of 5%, a lifetime of 5 years and a cost below 2 DKK for a
credit card sized polymer solar cell. The unique selling points of the polymer technology, such as
flexibility, low weight, abundant organic materials, and easy adaptable formats will gradually enable new
markets. This development is a step on the path to bulk energy production.
Polymer solar cells are third generation photovoltaic technology consisting of printed layers of polymer
inks. The technology promises lower cost and shorter energy payback time (time in use before the solar
cell has generated the amount of energy used during production) than any other solar technology, but is
still not at its full potential. In this project Mekoprint will work together with a commercial ink supplier and
several potential customers to ensure that the technology has a competitive advantage by the end of the
project period.
DTU Energy Conversion will develop methods to reliably determine polymer solar cell lifetime. Significant
efforts will be spent on accelerated lifetime testing, so that the performance over the lifetime of the solar
cell can be guaranteed. This is not a simple task due to the complex chemistry involved, and is currently
an active field of international research. This is a key area of collaboration between Mekoprint and DTU
Energy Conversion in this project.
Customer dialogs are central to ensure commercial specifications and Mekoprint is in close contact with
several international customers in various markets. Mekoprint will actively promote and push the polymer
solar cells to the market by:
- Demonstrators to highlight the benefits of polymer solar cells presented at e.g. trade shows
- The established sales channels at Mekoprint
- Easy online access to product information and sample service for product developers
- Trade shows, conferences, etc.
The funding for this project enables the polymer solar cell technology to reach the maturity level needed for
market introduction. Through this funded project Denmark will achieve a unique international position by
having an industrial production of polymer solar cells.
The objective of the project is to commercialize polymer solar cells for small independent prod-ucts. For the industry partner and project manager, Mekoprint, the objective was to get com-mercial inks and materials to work in an industrial environment and to direct this development towards customers large enough to reach competitive quantities. The market responded pos-itively during the project, but the performance required for market introduction (efficiency, lifetime and cost) could not be achieved with the current technology and therefore it is decided to stop the project.
In support of the project objective the university partner, DTU, has developed methods for reliable testing and determination of the lifetime of polymer solar cells. Production of polymer solar cells has been carried out at both Mekoprint and DTU and lifetime tests at Mekoprint and DTU have been shown to yield corresponding results.
Key figures
Category
Dokumenter
Participants
| Partner | Subsidy | Auto financing |
|---|---|---|
| Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU) | 5,17 mio. DKK | 3,66 mio. DKK |
| MEKOPRINT A/S | 2,39 mio. DKK | 6,89 mio. DKK |
