Cambridge start-up develops low cost printed plastic solar cells to replace conventional solar cells

A Cambridge-based start-up, Eight19, is proposing to use printed-plastic solar cell technology which will cut the manufacturing cost of solar cells hugely, and will be cost-effective for the deployment of solar energy facilities in developing countries.

Speaking at the Economist Conference's UK Energy Summit, Eight19 CEO Simon Bransfield-Garth shared , how the company’s technology will use just 1kg of photovoltaic materials to produce enough flexible printed plastic Photo Voltaic to cover the whole of Wembley Stadium football pitch.

According to Garth, his company’s roll-to-roll manufacturing processes will vastly reduce the cost of production making future solar more affordable and accessible for those currently living off-grid. Once deployed the flexible, printed plastic solar cells can be put to any sort of use, just like the power from conventional solar cells. But, emphasizing further, the CEO feels the technology has potential to solve the humongous energy appetite of developing countries like India as well.

Eight19’s printed plastic solar cells use organic photovoltaic (OPV) technology, based on research from Cambridge University; technologies like which Garth stressed should replace conventional, energy-intensive manufacturing techniques. --------

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