Saule Technologies have announced they will be providing Skanska's commercial development business unit in Central Eastern Europe (CEE) with perovskite technology in the form of test cells. Skanska's long term goal is to become the "first" developer worldwide to cover office buildings with semi-transparent perovskite solar cells on a commercial scale. The initial implementation tests are planned for 2018 in Poland.
Skanska will apply the test-cells onto its projects in 2018, creating a significant milestone towards zero-energy and carbon neutral office investments. The developer has exclusive rights to use Saule Technologies’ solar cell solutions, as stated in a license-based agreement signed between the two companies, in building façades and noise barriers across all Skanska markets worldwide (the Nordics, Europe and the USA). Saule states that the adoption of perovskite technology means benefits for the developer, tenants and communities – favourable implementation costs, lower energy costs and consumption, and lower carbon footprints.
"Perovskite solar cells offer new opportunities to architects and construction companies willing to utilize solar power. Our modules are lighter, thinner and much more design friendly than the most popular silicon solar cells. We may customize the shape, color and size of the module depending on the needs of the customer and install them wherever there is a free area on the building. This also means not being limited to the roof."
Olga Malinkiewicz, Co-founder and CTO at Saule Technologies
"It is not a science-fiction vision anymore. Working with talented scientists from Saule, we are now turning fiction into reality and creating buildings which are more energy efficient and carbon neutral. Up to now this has not been possible on a large scale. Climate change is one of the biggest challenges the modern world is facing and it contributes to extreme weather events that are increasing in frequency and severity around the world. As such there is increasing legislative pressure to run businesses in a sustainable and attentive manner."
Katarzyna Zawodna, CEO of Skanska's commercial development business in CEE
Background
Saule Technologies has been working on the application of ink-jet printing for fabricating free-form perovskite solar modules since 2014. This technique allows the shapes and areas covered by each layer to be customised according to requirements.
The stability and water resistance of the modules makes them ideal for the construction industry. The company has conducted advanced research on perovskite applications in solar energy harvesting and optoelectronics with leading international universities in the UK, Israel, Germany, Italy and Spain.
With a Japanese investor on board, along with support from the Polish National Centre for Research and Development and several research grants worth more than EUR 20 million, Saule Technologies is now working on a large-scale, prototype production line.