Oxford Photovoltaics: Development of Product Prototype Solar-Power Glazing Modules for BIPV

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Oxford Photovoltaics Ltd were the £100K winners in the energy section of the Competition for Disruptive Solutions’ at the Technology Strategy Board’s Innovate10 event. The Company successfully and efficiently completed its awarded project (No. 130404, TP 4127-37152) and now seeks further funding to support and exploit the pre-commercial development of this low cost and aesthetically attractive photovoltaic (PV) solar energy technology, with Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) as the initial focus. The product envisaged is solar power glazing: standard building glazing containing transparent PV modules with the appearance of tinted glass.This project will deliver product prototype Glass PV modules and the associated pilot processing capability, ready for manufacturing scale-up and early release trials with strategic partners in the construction value chain.The modules produced will use patent-protected solid-state dye sensitised solar cells (ssDSC), a novel transparent PV technology. The nano-engineered PV modules will combine large area deposition and patterning methods with standard glass manufacturing, to produce colourtinted glazing capable of stable and efficient solar powered electricity generation. The modules developed in the project will be available to architects in a broad palette of aesthetically pleasing colours and transparency options.In further contrast to competing PV technologies, the use of low cost production methods and abundant materials enables low electricity production costs and low environmental impact. No other company is currently marketing solid state DSC products and the applicant’sIP portfolio offers strong commercial advantage over emerging developments, and offers an opportunity to establish a globally dominant market position.The wider goal of the applicants is to deliver a generic manufacturing process for their PV technology platform, in preparation for further market opportunities involving glass and alternate substrates, such as steel.