The Future of Photovoltaics: Organic, Perovskites, CIGS, Hybrid

3M Barrier Films are designed to provide a barrier to water and oxygen transmission while maintaining the optical transmittance characteristics of the base films. These films are used in both display and flexible electronic applications where water and oxygen sensitivities are present. In the area of flexible photovoltaics most of the emerging technologies like CIGS, OPV and perovskites require ultra barrier films to protect them from degradation in the field.
3M has the unique capability to make roll to roll barrier films in wide format allowing for large scale barrier film volume. We will provide an introduction to ultra moisture barrier film construction and performance as well as highlight the features and characteristics of the barrier film products that are currently commercialized.

3M Barrier Films are designed to provide a barrier to water and oxygen transmission while maintaining the optical transmittance characteristics of the base films. These films are used in both display and flexible electronic applications where water and oxygen sensitivities are present. In the area of flexible photovoltaics most of the emerging technologies like CIGS, OPV and perovskites require ultra barrier films to protect them from degradation in the field.
3M has the unique capability to make roll to roll barrier films in wide format allowing for large scale barrier film volume. We will provide an introduction to ultra moisture barrier film construction and performance as well as highlight the features and characteristics of the barrier film products that are currently commercialized.

Unlike conventional crystalline solar cells, the organic solar films are not only flexible and transparent, but can also be bent and shaped as desired. The ASCA® solar film can be produced in blue, green, grey and red. There are also no limits in terms of length, size and design. We can produce any kind of solar cell, which thus becomes part of the architecture, thanks to our unique industrial free-form, integration and project approach.

With its customer orientation, ASCA offers solutions for all market segments with ASCA® Mobility, ASCA® Sensor and ASCA® Structures.
Our projects are oriented through three main types of integration:
1. media facades
2. glass facades
3. building envelope elements like guardrails

The solar power is produced by carbon-based organic solar cells, which ASCA applies in very thin layers to thin films using an internally designed printing process.
These unicities will be illustrated through project realized by the ASCA team.

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The interest in perovskite photovoltaics (PVs) has drastically increased in the last few years, both in the scientific community and solar industry, since these devices can offer a high light-to-electricity conversion efficiency at a low manufacturing cost, providing also many unique characteristics. According to the latest research reports, the market of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is estimated to grow at a 34% compound annual growth rate (CARG) for 2020-2027. Although, to ensure the economic feasibility and competitive levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), critical challenges regarding their long-term stability, scaling up and manufacturing costs should be further considered and overcome.
For enabling the successful fabrication of very low-cost, stable and scalable PSCs, ambient air processed carbon-based hole transport material-free (C-based HTM-free) PV devices employing perovskites as light absorbers are considered the front runner to the market. This type of solar cell seems to be the most promising for achieving very low manufacturing costs due to the inexpensive carbon materials, very simple structure and full compatibility with printing fabrication techniques. Simultaneously, under this architecture, many instability issues that characterize the conventional noble metal-based PSCs are addressed. When the fabrication of these devices is combined with fully ambient air-processing, where sophisticated air/humidity-controlling systems are avoided, their mass production and commercialization are considered one significant step closer.
Up until now, the vast majority of PSCs have relied on the spin-coating of solar cell materials under inert fully controlled conditions, with the performance of devices that are developed by alternative techniques and under ambient atmosphere to lag far behind. This impedes the technology transfer from the laboratory to industrial large-scale production. Thus, the investigation of new scalable techniques should be thoroughly considered. Some of the alternatives that have been already applied are blade-coating, slot-die coating, spray-coating and inkjet-printing. Amongst them, inkjet-printing stands out as a digital deposition approach for solution-based materials that is characterized for its scalability, fast material deposition with high accuracy and low waste, which also allows for the formation of fine patterns of printed inks at a high resolution. To date, even though the studies on inkjet-printed PSCs are only few, substantial achievements have been made, with the record efficiencies for small-sized C-based PV devices to be on the order of 12%.
One of the aims of Brite Solar is to increase the technology readiness level (TRL) of PSCs for many pioneer and niche applications. More specifically, the company aims to deliver fully printed large-sized (>400 cm2) perovskite solar modules (PSMs) (Fig.1) utilizing drop-on-demand inkjet-printing, as well as novel nanostructures and perovskite materials, that will increase the competitiveness of this technology for its entering the PV market, all developed by Brite Solar Engineers and Scientists. Very recently, a breakthrough in the upscaling of fully-printed ambient air processed C-based HTM-free PSMs has been achieved: efficiencies on the order of 10% (in the active area of PV) under 1 sun illumination on an unprecedented 200 cm2 active area, is the main topic of our presentation, also demonstrating noteworthy stability under different accelerated ageing conditions (according to the ISOS protocols).

Coatema delivered a pilot line in 2012 to the University of Thessaloniki in Greece. (Auth). Since then, there has been a continuous scale up of the system with the integration of different quality control systems like inline spectroscopy and others. In a new European project called Real Nano additional quality control systems are being installed.
The talk describes the used systems, the influence of the different parameters like coating, drying, tension control and others.

Our latest approach to 4T perovskite/Direct Wafer silicon tandem PV modules will be presented. As energy demand continues to increase globally, solar photovoltaic (PV) technology needs to respond with ever-increasing module efficiency – and better energy yield. Archetypical single-junction silicon technology has an upper module efficiency limit of ~24%, though by applying a metal halide perovskite top cell and a bifacial module design, module efficiency can increase to over 30% and leverage up to 30% albedo light (i.e., reflected light available to the backside of the module). Concurrently, as noted by Swanson’s Law, this increase in PV deployment is expected to also come at an ever declining price, typically registered in $/W(name plate). As such, CubicPV looks to pair its very low-cost printed perovskite technology as our top cells with our kerfless silicon Direct Wafer technology as the basis for our bottom cells. Most importantly, by combining printed perovskite materials with kerfless silicon, CubicPV aims to produce an area-efficient PV module with very low embedded energy and carbon, as compared to standard silicon PV derived from the Czochralski single crystal process.

Over the last decade, organic solar cells (OSCs) have become a promising technology for next generation solar cells combining novel properties such as light weight, flexibility, or color design with large-scale manufacturing with low environmental impact. However, the main challenge for OSC will be the transfer from lab-scale processes to large-area industrial solar cell fabrication. High efficiencies in the field of OSCs are mainly achieved for devices fabricated under inert atmosphere using small active areas, typically below 0.2 cm2. So far, a small lab scale devices have now reached performances above 18%.
Apart from traditional large scale outdoor application, organic photovoltaic cells and modules are also of interest for powering small, off-grid electronic devices indoors. In this context, the main challenge for organic photovoltaic technology will be the transfer from lab-scale processes to large-area industrial modules fabrication under inert atmosphere using green solvent. In this light, inkjet printed highly efficient organic photovoltaic modules under indoor illumination were demonstrated by Dracula Technologies even for low lighting condition (<50 lux) by using new specific indoor materials and device structure. To prove the great advantage of inkjet printing as a digital technology allowing freedom of forms and designs, particular organic modules with different artistic shapes were demonstrated keeping high performance under indoor conditions. Reported results confirm that inkjet printing has high potential for the processing of OPV, allowing quick changes in design as well as the materials.
Reported results confirm that inkjet printing has high potential for the processing of OPV, allowing quick changes in design as well as the materials.

In this talk, Steven Davies from DuPont Teijin Films will provide an overview of their Mylar® UVHPET™ product range and how these products are being used in thin film solar applications. Applications for DuPont Teijin Films’ polyester films include front sheet, backsheet and electrode layers, and the talk will specifically focus on the impact of these products from a sustainability perspective. Covering topics such as the use of recycled content, feasibility studies into future closed loop recycling processes and the durability and reliability of the products, the key theme will be that halogen free films can be used in these emerging technologies without a negative impact on product performance – Sustainability without compromise.

Powering a large number of IoT devices from primary batteries is often a showstopper for many use cases. OPV with its excellent performance under challenging illumination conditions can be
a significant part of the solution. Since there is no standard IoT specification, the integration of the power source is mostly highly customized. By combining inhouse OPV production, systems development and cloud based data collection and power management, we develop optimized IoT solutions for Industry and smart buildings.

Organic photovoltaics (OPV) is a technology that can benefit from both Roll-to-roll and a fully wet-processed production; using liquid inks to create a photovoltaic device. While OPV is not quite ready for solar applications yet, there is another market where this technology can already be utilized, namely the indoor PV market (IPV). A key driver for this market is the ongoing sensor boom, an ever-increasing demand for more data and hence devices that collect this data. A major limiting factor in deploying an abundance of these sensor devices is the cost for keeping track of and replacing batteries; the “battery hell”.
A credit card sized organic IPV module can completely replace batteries or extend the battery lifetime. This concept is called “Light energy Harvesting” abbreviated LEH, a tool that will become key in circumventing the “battery hell”.
In this talk co-founder and RnD director Thomas Österberg will explain the key concepts in realizing a printed technology fit for the IPV market and give an update of the present status of Epishine, a manufacturer of organic IPV modules.

Evolar is offering turnkey fab solutions based on a perovskite technology, PV Power Booster, to be used for tandem solar cell applications. Evolar was founded in 2019, but the team has a long history in the thin film solar cell business. Some of the team members founded also Solibro, previously the leading company in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin film solar cell technology and a provider of panels and turn-key fabs. The long experience of development, production, and equipment design provides conditions for a fast commercialization of Evolar’s solution.
The deposition of the perovskite layer is made in an evaporation process, a well-established method for large area and high-volume production of high-quality thin films. Evolar has achieved uniform high quality perovskite films on m2 substrate sizes, using in-house designed equipment. Evolar’s main concept is based on a so called four terminal tandem technology, where we deposit the semi-transparent perovskite module directly on the inside of the cover glass on a conventionally Si-module.
By offering high up-time and high throughput equipment in combination with a significant improvement in module efficiency and low operating costs, the pay-back time for an investment in Evolar’s technology is short.

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Heliatek is technology leader in organic photovoltaics. In his presentation, Heliatek’s CTO Jan Birnstock
will give insights in the innovative technology, the proprietary roll-to-roll evaporation production
process, the product advantages and will draw the future technology and market potential.

Heliatek’s organic solar film HeliaSol® is an innovative solar film, that is ultra-light, flexible and ultra-thin.
With a carbon footprint of less than 10 g CO 2 e/kWh it is the greenest of all solar technology. Thanks to
the integrated backside adhesive, the solar films can be easily glued to a variety of building surfaces and
transforms them into clean energy generators.

Solution coated gas barrier (SGB) for flexible device was developed to cover defects of substrate and to lower the cost of gas barrier by PECVD. With suitable plasma treatment of SGB, the WVTR of gas barrier substrate can achieve 4.72x10-6 g/m2day after rolling at 15mm radius for 10,000 times. this technology is suitable of flexible device, such as flexible OLED, organic photovoltaic, and quantum dot material.

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We will introduce Lightricity indoor PV technology that can provide up to x6 more power per area than existing technologies when harvesting indoor light. Lightricity sustainable technology can power sensing and wireless IoT devices without the need of replacing batteries. We will show how PV customisation, flexibility and miniaturisation enable specific use cases within wearable electronics, covering watches, e-textile and smart cards

Lusoco™ is an innovative Dutch start-up that offers energy harvesting signage. The concept works via fluorescent inks on glass or a polymer, that absorb sunlight and concentrate this to the edges where small solar cells are located. The generated energy is stored in a battery and used during the night to power edge-attached LED, resulting in glowing of the image. As this happens only where the ink is printed, off-grid net-zero energy signage with high contrast images and low power consumption is achieved.

For a long time, the researchers in the organic photovoltaics (OPV) field focused on matching the high power conversion efficiency of silicon solar cells under the sunlight for outdoor applications. However, the emergence of indoor electronic devices for the internet of things has spurred the scientific community to focus on the efficient conversion of indoor light into electricity. As a result, the OPVs outperform silicon solar cells with efficiencies approaching 30% under indoor lighting. In this presentation, I will highlight the key features and challenges of indoor OPVs and present a demonstration of integrated OPV-based indoor light sensor and energy harvester for smart building applications.

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Saule Technologies has recently completed its first production line, and is currently developing the first commercial applications. Conventional photovoltaic (PV) markets, such as utility scale PV, are quite rigid and very demanding for a new entrant. Perovskites offer several new value propositions, which offer various monetization prospects, if properly used. In particular, functionalities such as flexibility, high specific power, and good low-light performance enable new applications and broadening of conventional PV usage. The presentation will review the development of Saule Technologies, and demonstrate the go-to-market strategy of the company.

Solaires has recently introduced their patent pending perovskite Solar InkTM that has a unique formulation that allows the fabrication of perovskite film with high energy conversion efficiency and high stability. It can be used for different types of rigid and flexible substrates. It has been specially formulated in our labs to make it compatible with different fabrication processes, including spin coating, slot-die and blade-coating. The advantages of using Solar InkTM are to achieve high power conversion efficiency, high stability and ability to air process in ambient conditions. We are working with perovskite PV experts and PV module manufacturers on adopting our Solar InkTM to their fabrication process so that together we can push perovskite technology forward and create industry changing innovation.
In this conference, Solaires will introduce its solar ink technology, its validation on perovskite solar cells, and their go to market strategy.

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Whilst the photovoltaic performance of perovskite solar cells continues to increase, technology developments are also progressing in the area of printing and processing in order to realise large scale manufacture. Possible methods for both depositing the layer stack and its subsequent heating are numerous; to deliver a working and scalable device stack can require a hybrid approach where multiple printing techniques are employed. This talk will introduce a series of technology developments required to enable the continuous fabrication of perovskite solar cells at commercial scale using both R2R and S2S processing.
A layer by layer approach to coating deposition will be presented including the mechanism and process parameters required to successfully deposit the entire device stack via screen printing and slot die coating. This talk will consider the trials and tribulations of manufacturing perovskite solar cells at scale on glass and flexible PET substrates, in particular delivering an assessment on the matching of device architecture to deposition method to substrate with the view of unlocking large-scale production.

Ubiquitous Energy has developed a truly transparent solar technology for a variety of applications, including building windows that generate their own electricity to offset general building energy usage and power onboard smart features. This truly transparent solar coating is based on novel semiconductor materials that selectively convert incident ultraviolet and infrared light into electricity and simultaneously blocks transmission of unwanted solar heat, all while selectively transmitting visible light to remain virtually invisible. In this talk we will review the operating principles of transparent solar technology, practical performance targets, applications, as well as manufacturing and integration considerations.

VTT conducts world leading research in the field of printed, hybrid, and structural electronics. This includes its pioneering role dedicated to roll-to-roll (R2R) manufacturing using their extensive pilot line facilities in Oulu, FI. The use of R2R pilot line manufacturing has been demonstrated for countless devices, including OLEDs, PVs (organic and perovskite), sensors, and supercapacitors, using multiple printing and coating technologies.
With VTT’s proven expertise in R2R patterning by gravure printing, recent exciting endeavors have been the R2R gravure printing of perovskite photovoltaics. Today’s talk will focus on the solutions for R2R gravure printed perovskite PV and outlook for future development.