NLAB SOLAR receives 3.8MSEK in funding from the Swedish Energy Agency

NLAB solar secures an additional SEK 3.8 million in financing from the Swedish Energy Agency, the government agency for national energy policy issues. The funds from the Swedish Energy Agency will be used to build Sweden’s first factory for production of 3rd generation solar cells, Dye Sensitised Solar Cells (DSC).

The Swedish Energy Agency operates in various sectors of society to create conditions for an efficient and sustainable energy use and a cost-effective Swedish energy supply. The objective of the financing of NLAB Solar is to establish manufacturing of 3rd generation solar cells in Sweden for a global market. The partnership between NLAB Solar and the Swedish Energy Agency is an important step towards the integration of power generating facades, and therefore it is also a big step towards ecologically sustainable and self-powered buildings.

“I am proud that we are joining forces with the Swedish Energy Agency in creating a powerful momentum for commercialization of 3^rd generation solar cells in Sweden and the Nordics. To succeed we need a triple helix collaboration between the government, the best academic research and the right industrial partners backing our efforts “, says Giovanni Fili, CEO NLAB Solar.

NLAB Solar will be using the funds to construct one of the world's first pilot plants for production of 3^rd generation solar cells, in combination with financing from the European commission’s program LIFE+ and the industrial partner Fasadglas Bäcklin, the largest façade company in Northern Europe. The plant will be located in Stockholm, Sweden.

Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSC), also known as Grätzel cells or third generation solar cells, are based on natural chemistry. The working principle of the DSC can be described as artificial photosynthesis, utilizing a synthetic dye adsorbed on titanium dioxide instead of chlorophyll to convert sunlight into green power. NLAB Solar’s unique and patented technology for transparent DSCs– a photonic crystal – allows them to boost the conversion of sunlight to electrical energy by up to 37% above competition.

NLAB Solar's transparent DSC makes it possible to use the entire facades of large buildings in urban environments for power production in spite of poor light conditions. The goal is to power one square meter of office space with one square meter of solar cell facade. NLAB Solar's cells are estimated to cost 20% of the current price on silicon solar cells. Another property that makes the product highly attractive to the glass market is the possibility of tailoring transparency and colour of the solar cells, which will allow them to replace solar control film in warm countries. The global glass market for NLAB Solar is estimated to be in excess of 3 billion square meters per annum.

For more information please contact:

Giovanni Fili, CEO NLAB Solar AB
Telephone: +46 (0) 735 300 00
giovanni@nlabsolar.com