The global solar photovoltaic market grew by over 40% in 2007, with approximately 2.3 GW of newly installed capacity. With increasing electricity prices driven by the recent rises in fossil fuel prices, photovoltaic electricity is already competitive in some US states and it is expected to be so in Southern European countries by 2015 and by 2020 for most of Europe.
Four countries dominated the global photovoltaic market in 2007: Spain joined Germany, Japan and the US as a major market, by tripling its annual installations in 2007. Italy, France and South Korea are emerging as significant markets, and China and Taiwan as significant manufacturers. In the UK, the Stern report was the impetus for very substantial commitments by industry and the government that are directed to technologies such as DSC, which offer improved relative performance in that climate.
The first volume manufacturing plant for Dye Solar Cell (DSC) 3rd generation solar panels will come on line in 2008, and DSC product development is intensifying in Europe and Asia. Independent forecaster Paul Maycock has identified 12 companies in the dye, nano and organic solar cell sector expected to bring solar panels to the market by 2010.
Dyesol is positioned as the leading global supplier of technology and materials to the DSC sector, so 2008 will be the year when Dyesol will accelerate its manufacturing capacity, introduce new products for licensing and joint ventures, and consolidate its presence in the key market areas mentioned above.
The collaborations in the UK with Corus and G24i continue and Dyesol is positioned to benefit from both development and manufacture by those companies. Following the completion of the first phase of the Corus project to produce DSC on coil steel, the companies have strengthened the partnership for the second phase designed to bring the project to pilot production.
Dyesol also has formed Dyesol Italia s. r. l to collaborate in research and commercialization of DSC in Italy. The establishment of collaborative development facilities in Rome with University of Rome 'Tor Vergata' is the first step. Deliveries of equipment will commence in March. The company is also active in evaluating collaborative project development in Germany and Spain.
In Asia, Dyesol has a solid marketing program in Japan, Korea and Taiwan with agents appointed and all now having been trained. We have been invited to negotiate a joint venture with IPP (CAS) in Hefei to commercialise DSC panels in China and further details will be provided during the next few months.
Recently, the Gulf has become a region where potential business partners and government have expressed interest and, following a visit by the Chairman, Richard Caldwell and Gavin Tulloch, President Dyesol International, in December the Company has appointed a representative in Abu Dhabi.
To meet the expansion opportunities, the Company announced in December the site for our new 'Super-Green' manufacturing and development facilities in Australia. These facilities will house the existing pilot plant, enhanced R&D laboratories and engineering facilities, scaled up materials manufacturing facilities and new product manufacture. Full details will be announced shortly.
Dyesol is fully funded to meet its commitments to expansion projects in Australia, UK, Italy, and China, as well as the previously announced initiatives in Switzerland and South East Asia.
The directors and executives of Dyesol are cognisant of the importance of maintaining leadership in commercialization of DSC and to expand as rapidly as the market place for solar energy progressively accepts DSC as the PV solution for applications not subject to regular full sun. With the recent announcements of spot price for silicon exceeding US$300/kg, the immediate opportunities for DSC, as a lower cost alternative due to the much lower energy usage in manufacture, expand.
The Technology - DYE SOLAR CELLS
DSC technology can best be described as 'artificial photosynthesis' using an electrolyte, a layer of titania (a pigment used in white paints and tooth paste) and ruthenium dye sandwiched between glass. Light striking the dye excites electrons which are absorbed by the titania to become an electric current many times stronger than that found in natural photosynthesis in plants. Compared to conventional silicon based photovoltaic technology, Dyesol's technology has lower cost and embodied energy in manufacture, it 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 - DYESOL Limited
Dyesol is located in Queanbeyan NSW (near Canberra) and in August 2005 was listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX Code 'DYE'). Dyesol manufactures and supplies a range of Dye Solar Cell products comprising equipment, chemicals, materials, components and related services to researchers and manufacturers of DSC. The Company is playing a key role in taking this third generation solar technology out of the laboratory and into the community.
More detail about the company and the technology can be found at: http://www.dyesol.com
dyesol
solar
photovoltaics
Good post very interesting
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