Scientists have produced the largest flexible, plastic solar cells in Australia.

If it is well known that invest in solar panel remain too expensive for the small budgets, henceforth via this achievement, things might change.In fact, Researchers from the Victorian Organic Solar Cell
Consortium (VICOSC), collaboration between CSIRO, The University of Melbourne, Monash University and industry partners, have printed organic photovoltaic cells, the size of an A3 sheet of paper.

According to CSIRO materials scientist Dr Scott Watkins, printing cells on such a large scale opens up a huge range of possibilities for pilot applications.

We also discover that in just three years they have gone from making cells the size of a fingernail to cells 10cm square. ‘’Now with the new printer they have jumped to cells that are 30cm wide.’’ The organic photovoltaic cells, can produce 10–50 watts of power per square meter, could also be used to improve the efficiency of more traditional silicon solar panels. The group is using existing printing techniques, making it a very accessible technology.

Using semiconducting inks, the researchers print the cells straight onto paper-thin flexible plastic or steel with the ability to print at speeds of up to ten meters per minute.

"We need to be at the forefront of developing new technologies that match our solar endowment, stimulate our science and support local, high-tech manufacturing.

"While the consortium is focused on developing applications with current industrial partners there are opportunities to work with other companies through training programs or pilot-scale production trials," Dr Watkins says.