Our Managing Director, Richard Caldwell, is being interviewd following the appointment of VDL Enabling Technologies Group (VDL ETG) to assist in the development of our Major Area Demo.

Listen to the interview:

Richard, Dyesol announced that it has appointed VDL Enabling Technologies Group to assist in the development of a Major Area Demonstration Prototype. Can you tell our audience a little about how this came about?

VDL is a world-class engineering company which we first identified as a potential partner when we investigated the Solliance consortium before joining it. In the qualification process, Dyesol shortlisted companies from Germany, The Netherlands and Japan. Unfortunately, such manufacturing expertise does not exist in Australia. VDL supplies to the automobile, space and telecommunications industries, amongst many others, where its engineering expertise is well recognised.

Our engagement with VDL ETG is an important validation step for our revolutionary Perovskite Solar Cell technology. VDL has the best Roll-to-Roll (R2R) and Sheet-to-Sheet (S2S) processing technology that we are aware of anywhere in the world. The preliminary step before proceeding to pilot line and mass manufacture is the production of a prototype, as pilot line and prototype go hand in glove.

What does this Prototype mean for Dyesol?

The Major Area Demonstration Prototype is intended to demonstrate that this technology can be scaled from the laboratory where the focus is on spot or hero cells to sizes which are commercially relevant, comparable to existing PV solar panels. The scale we are seeking is in the ballpark of 600 mm x 1200 mm which is a standard glass fabrication size for use in the built environment. In addition to demonstration, these panels will be available for show-casing, testing and accreditation. This is a very important de-risking exercise prior to the investment of substantial capital into mass manufacturing facilities.

Richard, the announcement mentions three phases for the Prototype. What are the key milestones?

The key phases for engagement with VDL are:

  1. Feasibility Study and Functional Specification
  2. Engineering
  3. Realisation

The project is carefully structured to ensure that financial and technical risk mitigation is well managed and that it has the best chance of success. The scale-up of new technology must be well planned and involve the best skill sets available. Dyesol believes this technology has the possibility of competing head-to-head with 1 and 2 generation PV and ultimately significantly displacing it.

Can you give us an idea of a timeline on the Prototype?

I don't want to paint Dyesol into a corner as we don't yet know the full extent of the technical challenges that we will face. Phases 1 & 2 will provide a much better understanding of the scope and scale of the project. However, we expect that the first 3 phases will be completed in a 12 - 18 month timeframe. Only time will tell. The emphasis of our activity will be in the quality of our output, not racing the clock and we are comfortable with our current first-mover advantage.

Richard, this is great news for Dyesol. What do the next few months look like?

The environment for solar PV has never been better. The collapse of oil prices is telling you we are in the midst of a paradigm shift. We expect Dyesol's leadership in the field of 3 generation PV to translate into multiple commercial opportunities. We will have further announcements on Turkey shortly and expect that this may well have a domino effect in relation to other governments and large industry following suit. Certainly, the level of international interest in our activities has never been greater. Simply, we want the technology to do most of the talking.

Dyesol Limited issued this content on 10 February 2016 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 09 February 2016 22:26:03 UTC

Original Document: http://www.dyesol.com/posts/cat/corporate-news/post/Interview_VDL_ETG_Appointed_as_Major_Area_Demo_Expert/?___SID=U