Greatcell Energy aims to reduce the cost of solar power by at least 50 per cent, using Perovskite based solar cell technology. Greatcell Energy will use small, thin, solar cells produced with roll-to-roll technology for applications in small scale electronics and IoT devices, and is in discussions with customers to provide cells to power remote controls, eReaders, electronic screens, IoT devices and automotive and space applications.

Solar power doesn’t just come from arrays on roofs or in farms. Perovskite photovoltaics can harvest the sunlight and artificial light from anywhere on the planet, be it indoors, outdoors, in bright sun, in shade or in space.

They can be designed to be much more efficient in low light than silicon cells, so appeal to niche markets.

Ultra-thin Perovskite solar cells also have the added advantages of extremely low material utilisation, high specific power and simple manufacturing processes.

According to Wikipedia, perovskite-based solar cell technology has been the fastest advancing solar technology ever. In less than a decade it has improved in efficiency to levels that took half a century for silicon solar cells to reach.

In response, Greatcell has assembled a world-class technical team focused on commercialisation of this technology. Its first product will be small, thin, solar cells produced with roll-to-roll technology for applications in small-scale electronics and Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

The company is well-placed to commercialise the technology by addressing markets where it already has some foothold. Greatcell is in advanced discussions with several large potential customers to provide cells to power remote controls, eReaders, electronic screens, various IoT devices and automotive and space applications.

The ultimate target product is a low-cost, printable, roll-to-roll perovskite-perovskite tandem solar cell.

The roll-to-roll production will be developed in stage-1 and applied to development of solar modules. This technology has a range of advantages:

• Much lower production costs than silicon

• Significantly lower carbon footprint from production than silicon

• Two energy producing layers, one for direct sun, the other to capture longer wavelength light so that the cells can capture a much large light spectrum for energy generation

• Thin, flexible cells can be rolled up for easy transport

The company’s vision it to reduce the cost of solar power by 50% or more.