University of Newcastle Solar Panels Can Be Sticked to Any Surface

An Australian breakthrough in wafer-thin solar panels that can be stuck on to any surface is a step closer to commercialisation. The recyclable solar cell sheets are created by University of Newcastle physics professor Paul Dastoor.

They can be fixed to surfaces using double-sided tape. At the moment they are less efficient and only last a couple of years, but this could be changed in the future.

What is a solar panel?

A solar panel converts sunlight into electricity using photovoltaic cells. Solar cells are made from semi-conducting material, most commonly silicon. They are arranged in groups called arrays or systems. They can be used to provide energy for off-grid applications, or they can be connected to the electricity grid and earn credits and payments from the utility company.

The University of Newcastle team led by Professor Paul Dastoor has developed an ink based on semi-conducting flexible polymers that can be printed onto clear plastic sheets, which are then laminated together to create panels. The Newcastle solar panels are only a few microns thick. A human hair is about 50 microns thick.

There are four major types of solar panels available on the market today, monocrystalline, polycrystalline, PERC and thin-film. Monocrystalline solar panels are made from one solid piece of pure silicon and are the most efficient. However, they are also the most expensive. Polycrystalline and PERC solar panels are less expensive but are not as efficient as mono-crystalline solar cells.

What is the technology behind a solar panel?

Using specialised semiconducting inks printed on the surface of plastic, Professor Paul Dastoor and his team have produced what they call a ‘light-weight, flexible, recyclable, cheap, and easy to install’ solar cell. These are then used to generate electricity by absorbing sunlight and converting it into electrical energy.

While state-of-the-art silicon solar cells are 25 percent efficient at turning photons into electrons, these printed ones are only about two or three percent efficient – but the Newcastle team reckons 4 percent is within reach. And they are much cheaper than today’s silicon-based solar panels, which cost about $0.66 per square foot, and produce 5.3 kilowatt hours of electricity for every kilowatt they generate.

The Newcastle University team have installed the world’s first commercial installation of their printed solar panel technology at CHEP Australia’s factory at Beresfield. The 18 metre long ultralight and ultraflexible strips are the same thickness as a chip packet and look quite similar too. The researchers are using the panels to power electric cars in a project called Charge Around Australia, which will also see them visit schools to help dispel “range anxiety” about electric vehicles.

What is the cost of a solar panel?

The Newcastle team’s panels are printed on plastic, a polyethylene terephthalate called PET (which is also used for soft drink bottles). They cost a fraction of the price of silicon-based solar cells, which require a massive plant to make.

The researchers estimate that a 200-square-metre bank of their flexible printed solar panels costs about $10 per square metre. If the efficiency of the solar panels can be improved, it could bring their cost even lower.

A home’s electricity consumption, the amount of sun exposure and local incentives impact the cost of a solar system. However, the home’s overall energy needs play the most significant role. For example, a family with two electric vehicles and all electric appliances will need a larger system than one with a single gas vehicle and many non-electric appliances. Fortunately, solar companies provide free upfront cost estimates to help homeowners understand the costs of their potential solar systems. These estimates take into account the home size, location and payment selection.

What is the payback period for a solar panel?

The payback period for a solar panel depends on a few key factors, including the total system cost and local electricity costs. Most professional solar companies will include an estimated payback period in their quotes, which you can use to compare offers.

Australia is renowned as one of the sunniest countries in the world – and it doesn’t take long for a solar system to pay for itself. Newcastle, for example, gets 5.3 peak sun hours per square metre per day (on average), which is enough to generate more green energy than you consume each year.

Scientists have developed a new type of renewable energy tech – printed solar cells. The organic material, which is the thickness of a chip packet and looks similar to a food wrapper, can be made using conventional printers. It is also lighter and more flexible than traditional solar panels, and can even produce power from moonlight. The technology could be used in disaster areas to bring power to people without access to the grid.

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