Scaling Printed Photovoltaics: From 3rd Gen PV Innovation to Giga Fab
Industrialization

The transition from laboratory-scale 3rd Gen PV innovations to large-scale industrial manufacturing represents a defining shift in the evolution of renewable energy technologies. This presentation outlines the pioneering work of OET and the Flex2Energy initiative in establishing the first-ever Giga Fab dedicated to the automated production of printed photovoltaics. Leveraging advanced Roll-to-Roll (R2R) printing and automated assembly, the Automated Manufacturing Line integrates real-time quality control via in-line metrology, AI-driven analytics, and Industry 4.0 frameworks to enable scalable, cost-effective, and sustainable production. OET focuses on delivering customized Integrated Organic Photovoltaic (OPV) solutions for a wide range of applications, including Building-Integrated PVs (BIPVs), Agricultural PVs (AgriPVs), and Vehicle-Integrated PVs (VIPVs), offering flexible, lightweight, and visually adaptive semitransparent solar modules. These solutions aim to harmonize energy generation with the built environment and agriculture, minimizing land use while maximizing energy output. This talk highlights how the merging of advanced materials, digital manufacturing, and intelligent automation positions printed photovoltaics at the forefront of the clean energy transition. The presentation will demonstrate the critical role of scalable OPV and PPV solutions in achieving global net-zero goals.