New solar invention a success (From Witney Gazette)

New solar invention a success

2:00pm Thursday 28th July 2011 in News By Maggie Hartford

A HIGH-TECH Oxfordshire company has raised £650,000 to commercialise its pioneering transparent solar panels, that come in a range of colours.

Oxford PhotoVoltaics, based at Begbroke Science Park, will use the investment from venture capital companies and Business Angels to build a larger prototype of its solar cells.

Harnessing the sun’s energy, the transparent solar cells are printed directly on to glass, are available in a range of colours and could be used in windows and glazing panels.

The 'dye-sensitised' material was developed by Dr Henry Snaith and his team at Oxford University’s physics department.

The new solar cells are made from inexpensive, abundant, non-toxic and non-corrosive materials and can be scaled to any volume, according to the company.

Chief executive Kevin Arthur said: “It’s exciting to demonstrate the unique aesthetic benefits of our transparent glass-based screen-printable photovoltaic technology, and its simplicity of production and low manufacturing cost.

“We believe this technology has the potential to deliver a paradigm-shift in the way solar energy solutions are deployed in the future.”

The Oxfordshire company has combined earlier research on artificial solar cells and semi-conducting plastics to create a way of making panels using high-volume manufacturing processes.

Mr Arthur said the investment would allow the company to take on another two employees, bringing the total to four, plus Dr Snaith as a consultant.

OPV will now work on building a larger-scale prototype, and will look for more investment in about 18 months’ time to perfect a high-volume manufacturing process and move into high-volume sales.