Solar cells on plastic and Solar Fuels
Description
2015 Spinoza Prize winner Professor René Jansen is the figurehead for the development of solar cells on flexible plastic film. The efficiency of the silicon cell is now even higher but by building in layers to capture different parts of the spectrum of light, that advantage is rapidly diminishing. However, the silicon solar cell is now so economically attractive that price competition in its current form can no longer be the main motive. Very important grounds for success now are flexibility in shape and potential alternative applications. Flexibility enables applications on, for example, cars, ships, machinery and all kinds of equipment where the solar cell can be incorporated directly into the form as part of the airframe. The transparency of the film beckons applications on glass: shading and capturing energy at the same time.
Generating energy at the micro level immediately requires on-site storage. Batteries offer this possibility but have the disadvantage of low energy density, i.e. the relatively large use of materials, weight and limited efficiency. Within Jansen's research area, solar fuels, in which generated energy can be stored or released by converting reversible chemical compounds, are therefore being diligently developed.
René Jansen is not on an island in this respect. Eindhoven University of Technology is linked in these developments in the 'Solliance', a partnership in the Eindhoven - Aachen - Leuven triangle in which universities, research institutes and leading companies rapidly develop new technologies for direct applications and future marketing. In the presentation, Jansen will discuss the current stage of that broad cooperation and the prospect of a world centre for the development of solar energy applications in the triangle region.
Speaker(s)
Prof Dr Ir R.A.J. (René) Janssen, Chair of Physical Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology.
Location
Annual conference in Leeuwarden
Organiser
Southern Region
Name and contact details for information
drs. ing. C. (Cor) van den Bosch, t: 06 50638128 e: jocobowi@onsbrabantnet.nl