Greek Firm OET Seeks to Mass Produce Flexible Multicolour Solar Panels

As the world is honking towards the renewable sources of energy – primarily targeting the solar irradiance to generate electricity – a new player is mulling to bring out flexible solar panels that would further enhance the expansion of solar power world over. In a key development, Greek start-up Organic Electronic Technologies (OET) has said that it has secured funds to set up a pilot plant that will enable production of third-generation photovoltaics that will be flexible in nature.

Thessaloniki based OET also informed that it has teamed up with Lab for Thin Films – Nanobiomaterials,  Nanosystems and Nanometrology (LTFN) which is based at Aristotle University. LTFC will be heading a project to ensure the scaling up of thin, light, flexible and solar power panels that will also be translucent or semi-transparent. The new solar panels will also be available in multiple colors.

OET said in its presentation that the company wants to touch annual production capacity of one million square meters by 2025 end. OET has secured over EUR 21 million from the Horizon program from the European Union. The funds are meant for the Flex2Energy established in Thessaloniki.

At present, OET is already making third-generation PV panels through nanotechnology. The flexible solar panels will have multiple applications that could heighten the solar installations across the world.

According to OET, the project is also participated by the Hellenic Organic and Printed Electronic Association (HOPE-A) and 14 other industrial and research institutions of Europe. OET said that the flexible PV panel technology is present being employed and tested through a range of applications like buildings, greenhouses, electric cars etc.

The printed organic photovoltaics from the new manufacturing facility are expected to be available in a range of formats and combinations with other materials. OET says that the new solar panels could be employed in various solid structures, mobile and makeshift objects too. This will also help organisations and economies to create high-tech employment. Examples of such applications could be greenhouses, car parking or household windows and balconies.