COPE researchers have received almost $2 million from the Queensland Government to lead an international alliance working on the next generation of solar cells.

Andrew Fraser MP (State Treasurer) announces the National and International Research Alliance Program

funding for solar cell research
 

The researchers, Professor Paul Burn and Associate Professor Paul Meredith from the Centre for Organic Photonics & Electronics, focus on solar cells that have the potential for wide commercial deployment – they're plastic, portable and low-cost.

“Solar cells are widely viewed as an important pillar of the future renewable energy technology mix,” Professor Burn said.

“The objective of this research alliance is to develop innovative technologies for the next generation of solar cells, which will be based on inexpensive and environmentally friendly plastic materials.”

Associate Professor Meredith said presently the best commercially available solar cells were based on silicon and had efficiencies of about 10-20 percent.

“As a result of the cost and complexity of processing silicon, it takes five to 10 years electricity generation to pay off the initial outlay; a fact that hinders universal up-take, especially for households, in the current economic framework,” he said. 

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