ECN has joined forces with the Holst Centre, an open-innovation centre set up by TNO (Netherlands) and IMEC (Belgium), to transfer the knowledge they have gained into a working technology for organic solar cells, signing a partnership agreement to that effect.

For over twenty-five years ECN has been focusing its activities on renewable energy, with solar cells as a major element in this. The past decade has seen the advent of organic materials in the solar cell industry, alongside the traditional silicon. At present organic materials are less efficient than silicon but nevertheless interesting in that they could provide cheaper cells. Organic solar cells can also be produced on flexible materials, enabling new applications such as integration in fabrics and clothing. ECN has therefore had them in its research programme for over five years now.

Large-scale production
Having spent years building up knowledge of materials and production methods in the lab, it is now time to develop the technology for large-scale production. Only then will the benefits of organic solar cells be fully seen, and this is where the Holst Centre comes in. Mid-June the Eindhoven research centre started a roll-to-roll line, which can print thin layers of electronics (solar cells, OLEDs* etc.) similarly to the way newspapers are printed.

The ECN-Holst Centre programme will be looking into such things as whether the materials retain their efficiency when produced on a larger scale. The expectation is that the technology will be ready for use in e.g. small consumer products within about five years.

Knowledge development
ECN and the Holst Centre will not be producing solar cells themselves; the aim is for industry to sign up for the program and use the knowledge gained used in future products. The Holst Centre was set up with support from the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs in order to strengthen the Dutch knowledge-based economy. The program will lead to cooperation not only in the Netherlands but also with companies worldwide.

Paul Wyers, unit manager ECN Solar Energy, is excited about the partnership: “The Holst Centre’s knowledge of organic electronics, combined with ECN’s knowledge of solar cell technology, will speed up the development of organic solar cells substantially.”

Holst Centre
The Holst Centre is rapidly developing into an internationally acknowledged ‘open innovation’ centre that develops technology for smart, wireless, sensor-based microsystems and ‘systems-in-foil’. It was set up in 2005 by the Flemish IMEC and the Dutch TNO with support from the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Flemish Government. It develops technology to enable industry to market new products more quickly and efficiently. Right from the start it has had support from some leading companies. It already has fifteen partners, including large, medium-sized and small companies and academic institutions. For more information please go to www.holstcentre.com

* OLED: Organic Light Emitting Diode (‘light emitting foil’)

Contact:
Paul Pex
ECN Solar Energy
Tel.: 0224 - 564640
pex@remove-this-part-ecn.nl