Saule Technologies opens perovskite solar cell factory in Poland
[News on line]
Inauguration of the first Saule Technologies plant (© Saule Tech)
source PV Magazine France © JOËL SPAES
Saule Technologies, a Polish company specializing in research into next-generation perovskite-based photovoltaic cells, has just inaugurated the first perovskite PV cell plant. occupies an area of approximately 5,000 m2. Currently, the factory includes the pilot production line, which enables all laboratory processes to be reproduced in a fully automated manner. The first application of the produced perovskite PV modules will be to power IoT devices. At the same time, parallel work to establish a highly efficient industrial line has already been launched, targeting a capacity of 100 MW.
“Almost six years have passed since, with the financial help of the Japanese entrepreneur Hideo Sawada, we launched a project to realize the production line of photovoltaic cells in perovskite. I am happy and proud that after a long phase of research, testing and hard work, we are now entering the implementation phase. I have no doubts that perovskite solar cells will help make the world a better place. They bring hope for affordable green energy for all and a halt to climate change, ”said Olga Malinkiewicz, CTO and co-founder of Saule Technologies.
She pioneered a room temperature inkjet printing process eight years ago when she was a doctoral student at the Institute of Molecular Sciences (ICMol) at the University of Valencia, Spain. A process that greatly reduces manufacturing costs, which has earned it the prestigious prize in the Photonics 2 competition, organized by the European Commission, and another from the MIT Technology Review.
These innovative photovoltaic cells make it possible to manufacture lightweight, flexible photovoltaic panels that can easily be placed on a laptop, car, drone, spacecraft or building, even in the shade and indoors.
The obvious areas of application are BIPV (Building Integrated Photovoltaics) and BAPV (Building Attached Photovoltaics). This is the main reason why Columbus Energy - a modern energy service provider and the largest distributor of photovoltaic installations in Poland - invested 10 million euros in the development of Saule Technologies, becoming thus the main shareholder of the company and acquiring the priority purchase right of products based on perovskite cells.
On the day of the inauguration of the perovskite photovoltaic cell plant, Saule Technologies, along with Columbus Energy, signed tripartite cooperation agreements with the MVGM group, a leader in commercial real estate management, acting on 10 European markets. The value of the investment portfolio under the signed contracts is 250 million euros.
Willow Technologies has also started its IPO process. The initial public offering will take place on NewConnect - a marketplace managed by the Warsaw Stock Exchange - later this year.
