Glass2energy - from R&D to industrialisation

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11.11.2014

The cleantech company g2e has published its first newsletter in an exciting time for the start-up. At the beginning of October g2e launched the industrial production of photovoltaic cells at manufacturing facilities in Villaz-St Pierre.

To this date, g2e was purely R&D driven and developed a culture of innovation and flexibility. This period was essential for laying the groundwork before entering into industrialisation. Now g2e is entering into industrialisation and has appointed Henri Favre, mechanical engineer as their new Production Manager. Henri Favre, who previously worked for Ilford, joins the company with an in-depth knowledge of the production of inkjet inks and photosensitive papers.

g2e manufactures according to rigorous production guidelines. Strict quality control procedures are being implemented. During the forthcoming months, the production capacity will be doubled so as to fill orders on hand.

Glass 2 Energy Ltd has acquired a DSC licence of a new type of photovoltaic cell, based on advances made by Professor Grätzel of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL). The technology of dye synthesized solar cells is often referred to as artificial photosynthesis, analogous to chlorophyll in leafs, where a sensitized dye absorbs light and generates excited electrons. These electrons are injected into and transported via the conduction band of a high surface area semiconductor. These cells are thin film devices that use a nanocrystalline carrier layer made of titanium dioxide (TiO2) whose surface is chemically bonded with a monolayer of light-absorbing dye molecules. A small amount of gel electrolyte is used for the transport of the carriers

The energy production costs of these cells will be significantly below grid parity and competitive to all cells produced today, once mass produced. As the impact of the angle of incidence is low the whole surface (south, north, west, east and roof) of the building envelope can be dedicated to power generation. This technology represents a change of paradigm in the aim to build energy self-sufficient buildings. Panels take the functions of façade, windows, power generators and decorations in one go.

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