Increasing renewable energy generation is essential to reducing emissions, but conventional solar panels are not suitable for every application. Their weight, rigidity and installation requirements can limit deployment on curved surfaces, lightweight structures and temporary installations.
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Researchers at the University of Newcastle developed a different approach: lightweight, flexible printed solar technology that can be manufactured using industrial roll-to-roll printing techniques.
Supported by the ANFF-Materials Node, the team moved beyond laboratory-scale devices by using specialised roll-to-roll manufacturing infrastructure to produce and refine printed solar modules. ANFF's facilities enabled rapid prototyping and process development, helping researchers optimise the technology while building the manufacturing knowledge needed for commercialisation. Over many years, ANFF has supported the technology as it progressed from university research through successive stages of development and scale-up.
The technology's progress was demonstrated through increasingly ambitious real-world deployments. Printed solar modules produced using ANFF infrastructure were used in the Charge Around Australia initiative, which drove an electric vehicle around the country using energy generated by printed solar cells. More recently, Kardinia Energy's technology was deployed on Coldplay's Music of the Spheres world tour, demonstrating how lightweight solar generation can be integrated into large-scale temporary infrastructure and live event environments where conventional solar panels are often impractical. Continued development through these trials improved performance, durability and manufacturability while supporting Kardinia Energy's commercialisation pathway.
This project demonstrates how national research infrastructure helps Australian innovations progress from promising concepts to emerging industries. By providing access to advanced fabrication capability and expert support over many years, ANFF has helped transform printed solar technology from university research into a commercial opportunity that can strengthen Australia's clean-energy manufacturing capability, support advanced manufacturing in the Hunter Valley and create new pathways for renewable energy deployment.
Printing process for R2R solar panels.
Credit: Kardinia Energy
Printed solar panels being installed on an industrial building rooftop.
Credit: Kardinia Energy