Cambridge printed organic solar cell facility, largest in Europe

According to Eight19, it's believed to be the largest facility of its kind in Europe. The facility includes a multi-station roll to roll fabrication machine designed to create solar modules at a peak linear speed of more than 3.6Km/h. Eight19 was founded in 2010 to commercialise the printed organic solar cell technology that was originally developed at Cambridge University's Cavendish Laboratory, a world leader in plastic electronics. The facility is being established to provide a flexible development and printing system that can optimise the processes necessary for high volume organic solar cell production. The company's printing techniques are designed to keep manufacturing cost and energy use low, as well as increasing the throughput of the solar modules, creating lightweight, non toxic and flexible solar modules. By using the new high speed facility, Eight19 says it will be able to create low cost solar power generation that will be used in high volume industrial products, as well as its IndiGo pay as you go solar system for off grid power generation in emerging economies. These products replace poorly performing kerosene lamps which also contribute to ill health and carbon footprint in emerging economies. According to the World Bank, the global replacement market for kerosene lighting is worth more than $38billion worldwide. Professor Sir Richard Friend, one of the founders of Eight19 said: "Organic solar cell technology is one of the fastest improving approaches to solar power with peak reported efficiency more than doubling in the last three years. The new facility enables Eight19 to bring this research to practise and develop commercially viable manufacturing for worldwide application." Simon Bransfield-Garth, CEO of Eight19, pictured, added: "In the space of little more than 12 months, Eight19 has moved from a university spin out to a leading developer of organic solar cell technology. The new high speed roll to roll facility underpins the company's strategy to create solar modules that can be manufactured economically for a wide range of energy generation applications. We are sure that the new manufacturing technique will open up new markets across the world." Eight19 expects to have its first commercial printed plastic solar modules available in 2013.