New site for printed solar
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A new CSIRO facility has been created to bring flexible solar tech to market.
The $6.8 million facility in Clayton, Victoria, is designed to take printed flexible solar technology from the lab to industrial production, supporting renewable energy growth in various industries.
Its proponents say it addresses the need for adaptable solar solutions in applications like urban construction, space exploration, and emergency relief.
The development follows over a decade of research and a recent record in efficiency for CSIRO’s flexible solar technology.
Unlike traditional silicon-based solar panels, CSIRO’s solar cells are printed on lightweight, flexible plastic films, offering versatility and portability.
CSIRO Printed Photovoltaics Facility executive director Professor Elanor Huntington says Australia is set to become a leader in flexible solar manufacturing.
“Industry partners can access both researcher expertise and specialised equipment to improve and apply flexible solar technology in novel ways, anywhere there is sunlight,” she said.
The printed cells are manufactured using perovskite, a next-gen material that enables high-performance solar generation.
The facility uses advanced roll-to-roll printing technology, similar to newspaper printing, to produce continuous rolls of solar film.
Dr Anthony Chesman, leader of CSIRO's Renewable Energy Systems Group, says the goal is not to replace conventional silicon rooftop panels, but to expand solar's reach.
“This printed solar technology unlocks entirely new applications for affordable, versatile and sustainable energy generation,” Dr Chesman said.
The experts have mapped out applications that include deployment in remote and temporary sites, such as disaster relief and military operations.
According to Dr Chesman, the facility's automated production can generate up to 14,000 test solar cells daily, enabling ongoing enhancement of the technology’s design and efficiency. “Our new system is highly automated. The multiple printing and laminating steps are performed in a single continuous operation, which significantly cuts down on production costs and the upfront investment needed to get started,” he said.
The facility is funded by CSIRO in partnership with the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) through the Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics (ACAP).
Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic says that printable solar could be a “billion-dollar marketplace in the future”.
The Clayton-based facility is also set to explore printable materials for battery and hydrogen technologies, broadening the scope for sustainable energy applications.
The agency says it is actively seeking partnerships to further commercialise the technology. “We’re looking for partners who want to join us on the R&D journey and ultimately take this technology to market,” Dr Chesman said.
