And now, for printed energy storage – with solar

Australian solar dye technology develop DyeSol and created a new venture with Singapore based Printed Power to develop combined energy generation and printed energy storage devices designed for the commercial building market.

Dye solar cell technology allows metal and glass products in the building, transport and electronics sectors to generate energy. The two companies want to incorporate DyeSol’s work on solid state DSC research into the printed supercapacitors and batteries developed at Nanyang Technological University, from where Printed Power was spun out.

The two companies are looking to exploit these technologies to create autonomous self-powered devices for use in applications such as wireless remote sensor networks and smart building applications. They could be especially useful in low-light indoor areas.

Dyseol director Gordon Thompson said the DSC technology lent itself to these applications because of its efficient indoor energy harvesting system, and as a viable low-cost printable technology compatible with mass production.

DSC research undertaken by the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Dyesol and NTU achieved efficiencies in the double digit range under a broad spectrum of light conditionsDyesol will buy an equity stake through a strategic investment in Printed Power Pte Ltd, a spinoff from NUT. Printed Power has been awarded a SG$480k (AUD$371k) grant from the SPRING Singaporean Government enterprise development agency for a “proof of value” project to develop low light indoor sensor network product suitable for commercialisation within a two year time frame.

The companies said the “Proof of Value” project involves proving concepts with liquid DSC systems and then migrating to a fully integrated solid state DSC CEGS device using the best available solid state DSC technology to create a first-mover advantage in selected market applications.