Dyesol : A Brief Introduction to VDL ETG and the Major Area Demonstration Prototype

So, recently when Dyesol began translating its Perovskite Solar Cell PV technology from 'lab to fab' it required considerable 'brainstorming' - who and how, in particular. In reality, Dyesol is a company brimming with invention, best described as a technology enabler, but always up for a challenge. We delight at cracking scientific problems as part of a performance optimisation process, with commercialisation always the end goal. We substitute, we hypothesize, we experiment and so on - that is, until we consider that we are market-ready, which is now. (Jump in too early and we may risk becoming yet another statistic of the tried, but failed.) These skills are a little different, however, to what is essence of the true prototyping experience. A prototype is the synthesis of years of R&D, a functional object - ready for sale.

Hence, the critical decision to search the globe for a suitor with complementary engineering skills, but also with a shared vision of the company and its shareholders and ready to go head-to-head in a rapidly evolving PV market place. Enter, VDL Enabling Technology Group - a very large, private Dutch company has its origins in Philips, with such diverse expertise as to put cars on the road (BMW), satellites into space (NASA) and even production of the world's largest telescope (ESO). Importantly, VDL ETG is a company familiar with engineering new ideas and concepts and mitigating development risk through a stage-gated scale-up process - manual to high volume, automated production, if you like. Our risk focussed approach is drawing positive comment wherever we turn. Spoils to the victor!

Mini-MAD (650mm x 450mm), an internal project on glass substrate, is well on its way. Next, VDL ETG will help us take that to a 1200mm x 600mm full-scale prototype for testing, accreditation, demonstration and, ultimately, sale.

Richard Caldwell,

Managing Director