Organic solar cells – even greener solar energy and the architects’ dream

By Sune Holst, suneholst@tek.sdu.dk, 10/1/2019

Solar energy is the cleanest and most natural form of energy that we have. Within just three hours, the world’s surface is irradiated by the sun to an extent equalling the world’s annual energy consumption. This is why solar cells are an important part of the green transition, if we are to prevent a temperature rise of more than 2 degrees which has been the world’s declared climate goal since the Paris Agreement in 2015.

 

Bendable, transparent and papery solar cells

One of the shortcomings of traditional silicon solar cells is that the solar cell systems still need a large surface to produce enough heat/power for a household. In Sonderborg, we have some of the world’s leading researchers within the field of organic solar cells – and organic solar cells do not have this shortcoming. Because organic solar cells are bendable, transparent and wafer thin.

- Architects like to work with organic solar cells because they can see the potential. You can get the solar cells in different colours, you can integrate them into the front of a building, so they open up for some perspectives where you can produce the power just where it is needed – namely in the cities, says head of SDU’s solar cell group, associate professor Morten Madsen.

Organic solar cells have, among other things, been used in France in buildings worth preserving where the installation of other energy friendly technology was impossible because it would change the special architectural or historic impression of the building.

At the ’100% Climate Neutrality’ conference you can meet associate professor Morten Madsen together with a number of companies which are all interested in his research. You can see and hear him talk about organic solar cells in the video below.

About the’100% Climate Neutrality’ conference

The ’100% Climate Neutrality’ conference is a constructive conference that focuses on technological climate solutions and what works in the municipalities. With the ProjectZero vision, Sonderborg has already established significant results and you will be given examples on these, just as SDU, together with the other participating universities, will talk about their technological breakthroughs.

The conference is made possible by means from Bitten & Mads Clausens Fond, LINAK and Region Syddanmark, among others.