LIFE+ Project (Pilot Plant)

As exciting as dye-sensitized solar cell technology is, its potential will not be fully realized until it is brought to the masses. we have to put our money where our mouth is. This means moving beyond laboratory research towards commercialization of our technology. We believe that the time is right, so we are working on our most ambitious and exciting project – setting up a pilot production plant right in Stockholm that would be operationally ready by the end of 2012.

EU LIFE+ Project

NLAB Solar has received a grant of 1.8 million Euros under the LIFE+ project which finances cutting edge environmental initiatives in the European Union. Under the project, we will build a pilot production plant to demonstrate the large scale production of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs), the first of its kind in Sweden. The pilot plant is an important step forward in translating NLAB Solar’s proprietary technology into a commercialized, affordable product for end-users.

The pilot plant is expected to be one of the largest manufacturers of dye-sensitized solar cells in the world. More importantly, it will allow us to optimize the process for large scale production, along with the benefits of economies of scale and better cost efficiencies. Dye-sensitized solar cells should be affordable and available to the masses and we intend to make it that way.

To find out more about the EU LIFE + Project, click here.

How are we doing it?

Through our R&D efforts, we have formulated a series of proprietary inks which allows us to manufacture our solar cells through screen printing. This is the very same technique which is used in printing fabrics, posters and electronic circuit boards. It is reliable, fast and established. In other words, our strength in innovation has allowed us to minimize the risk in the manufacturing process.

What can we achieve?

  • Produce transparent DSCs with higher efficiencies. Transparent DSCs will provide freedom for architects to combine functionality with aesthetic design and allow true integration of solar cells into urban environments and building facades.
  • Contribute towards environmental objectives under the European Commission, including climate and energy targets to be met by 2020, known as the "20-20-20" targets. These are:
  1. A reduction in EU greenhouse gas emissions of at least 20% below 1990 levels
  2. 20% of EU energy consumption to come from renewable resources
  3. A 20% reduction in primary energy use compared with projected levels, to be achieved by improving energy efficiency.
  • Make Europe a major research and manufacturing centre of the next generation of solar cells. Europe forms the largest market for solar cells and this is a rich test-bed environment for one of the most promising photovoltaic technologies.

Exclusive images of our Pilot Plant