The project entitled ‘Printing solar cells – A manufacturing proposition for Australia’ aims to develop solar cells using more efficient methods as an alternative to the more traditional printing services such as through photovoltaic systems. The project also presents an opportunity for Australia to establish a leading commercial position in the production of solar cells with some of the country’s top researchers getting involved - including those at the University of Melbourne based near Thornbury.
The $7.2 million project has received $1.7 million support from the Australian Government and this has been matched by the Victorian Government.
This new initiative was officially launched last Wednesday by Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson AM MP who said of the project:
“Researchers at the University of Melbourne, the CSIRO Future Manufacturing Flagship, and Monash University will work with industry partners to take their innovation beyond the lab.
“Industry partners BlueScope Steel, Innovia Films and Robert Bosch will share their expertise and resources to help bring forward new opportunities for Australian solar energy innovation.
“This collaboration between researchers and industry partners will help commercialise the technology across a variety of potential applications, including for example as a coating for other material such as roofing steel.
“Using low-cost and readily available organic materials to Print solar cells through established industrial processes where we already have a competitive advantage offers the potential for solar cells to be manufactured at low-cost in Australia."
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