Dyesol in deal to develop prototype plant in Turkey

ASX-listed dye solar cell manufacturer, Dyesol, has signed a $A2.2 million contract to establish a prototype products production facility in Turkey.

The deal will see Dyesol supply Nesli DSC with the equipment needed to develop the prototype facility, build experience in the scale-up of DSC technology, and provide product for demonstration sites to seed the Turkish market.

Dyesol’s pioneering DSC technology creates “artificial photosynthesis” using a layer of nano-titania on glass, metal or polymer. The light that hits the layer of excited electrons, which is absorbed by titania and converted into an electric current.

Dyesol has recently proven the efficiency of their dye-sensitized solar cells to be 15 per cent, beating the world record of 14.1 per cent, and competing on the same level as conventional solar cells, even with low light.

When compared with conventional silicon based PV technology, DSC also costs less to manufacture and produces electricity more efficiently, even in low light conditions, and can be directly integrated into conventional glass panelled buildings.

The newly signed contract triggers a Memorandum of Understanding that recognises Dyesol’s pre-eminent position in DSC commercialisation and materials supply.

It also establishes a framework for the parties to evaluate and address establishing large scale manufacturing to jointly exploit this market.

Separately, the company has also started its commercial push into solid-state DSC (ssDSC) materials – which are touted as having the potential to transform the way buildings produce and consume energy.