3G Optical Photovoltaic (OPV) Solar Panels From the University of Newcastle

Newcastle scientists have created a solar panel that is much lighter, easier to install, and cheaper than traditional panels. This 3G OPV technology could revolutionise solar energy, particularly in developing countries.

In a first for Australia, the Newcastle team is testing this new solar tech on an 84 day journey around the country. Their Charge Around Australia project aims to dispel “range anxiety” in electric vehicles, as well as educate students along the way.

Lightweight

Unlike traditional silicon solar panels that require heavy glass, the Newcastle team’s printed solar cells are glued to a durable fabric. They weigh one-hundredth as much as standard solar cells and generate 18 times more power-per-kilogram.

Because of their light weight and flexibility, they can be easily rolled out onto any surface in places where electricity is desperately needed. They are also more sensitive to low light levels, allowing them to produce a continuous flow of energy even on cloudy days. They can even generate a small amount of power from moonlight.

While other teams have developed similar solar cell technologies, the University of Newcastle team’s printed solar panels are the first to be deployed in a real-world setting. They are being incorporated into shade structures as part of a public space development in Lane Cove on Sydney’s north shore. This will allow researchers to monitor the performance of a large area of printed solar panels under real world conditions for the first time.

Flexible

Physicists at the University of Newcastle have developed solar power technology that is wafer thin, flexible and cheap to produce. The revolutionary material, which is similar in thickness and appearance to a chip packet, can be printed using conventional printers. It costs less than $10 per square metre and could replace silicon-based solar panels. The team estimates that if the efficiency of the material can be doubled, it will be as affordable as coal.

The research has been installed at CHEP’s Beresfield Service Centre to demonstrate its potential for commercial use. It is the first time that the technology has been tested in a public environment, and it will allow researchers to see how the panels perform under real-world conditions.

The technology can be rolled out on the ground or attached to structures that cannot take the weight of traditional solar panels. It can also be incorporated into clothing, tents and even vehicles. The researchers hope that it will be used in disaster relief and aiding people who live off the grid.

Easy to install

A world-first renewable energy innovation could soon make signing up for solar power as easy as taking out a mobile phone plan. A Newcastle physicist has developed printed solar panels that are lighter and cheaper than silicon-based ones.

This new technology uses electronic ink to create a flexible solar cell. The solar cells can be printed on thin sheets of plastic and are highly recyclable. This will reduce our dependence on batteries and other non-renewable sources of energy, which are often produced with expensive materials like cobalt and lithium.

The first commercial installation of this technology is currently being installed at CHEP Australia’s Beresfield Service Centre. The team will also trial it at other CHEP sites. The installation is expected to take one day and cause minimal disruption to building users.

The technology is based on advances in perovskite solar cells, which have the potential to revolutionise energy storage and other applications, including electric vehicles. It is less efficient than traditional silicon-based panels and only lasts a couple of years, but it has significant advantages in cost, weight and ease of manufacture.

Cheaper

Researchers have printed solar panels that can be installed on a building using velcro strips. They are not as efficient as regular solar panels, but they are cheaper, lighter, and easier to manufacture. They are also far more eco-friendly than traditional solar panels, which rely on mining resources such as silicon, cobalt, and lithium.

Invented by University of Newcastle Professor Paul Dastoor, the organic solar material is thin, flexible, and as cheap as $10 per square metre to produce. Unlike conventional solar panels, it is more sensitive to low light levels and can even generate energy from moonlight. It is also much lighter and more portable, making it ideal for powering disaster relief shelters.

The team has set up a 200-square meter demonstration site in Lane Cove, Australia, to monitor the performance of the panels under real-world conditions. The installation will allow the team to observe how the panels perform under varying environmental conditions, such as cloud cover and temperature fluctuations.

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