Page 16-17 - Global Renewables Online January 2012

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GLOBAL RENEWABLES ONLINE - JANUARY 2012
The key difference between DSC
technology and conventional silicon-
based PV technology is that Dyesol’s
is lower cost and is integrated right
into the manufacture of products.
“[Dyesol’s] technology produces
electricity more efficiently even in
low light conditions and can be
directly incorporated into buildings
by replacing conventional glass
panels rather than taking up roof or
extra land area,” the company says.
There are several advantages to
this type of technology. It does not
require the use of expensive raw
materials, and the process to manu-
facture does not produce toxic
emissions. The real benefits however,
will impact the future of solar energy
development forever. DSC technolo-
gy is much less sensitive to angle of
incidence of radiation, and can
perform in a huge range of light
conditions, meaning the technology
can be used in the most unique of
conditions.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL FOR DSC
GRO spoke with Marc Thomas to
find out how Dyesol is investigating
the commercialization landscape for
DSC technology in 2012 and beyond.
Thomas was appointed President
Dyesol North America in 2009, and
at the time was responsible for
developing a strategy to get the
technology to market for Dyesol and
its partners. “We talk about the
potential for partnerships in our
business, really there is no competi-
tion but rather an opportunity to
develop the technology with our
national and international part-
ners,” Thomas explained.
The world’s first prototype
manufacturing facility for DSC was
built in 2000, and the DSC
effect was originally successfully
demonstrated in Switzerland 20
years ago by EPFL, with whom
Dyesol still benefits from a close
connection. The company has a
total of close to 300 person-years
invested in DSC technology.
“It takes a lot to get a technology
to the market. But there are very
few companies who possess the
advantages of DSC that can
introduce the technology commer-
cially, and have the experience to do
so successfully” Thomas said. “We
plan to expand the capabilities of
DSC so that the technology can be
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - DYESOL
Photographer - Thomas Bloch
Reproduced with permission of Innovarchi PTY LTD