Dyesol, a global supplier of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) technology, was featured in a recent update issued by global building materials giant Tata Steel. The update, which details progress of a three-year, $18M joint pilot project by the two companies to develop DSC technology, illustrates Dyesols strategy of partnering with building materials manufacturers to add photovoltaic capability to their products. In the update, Tata Steel clearly indicates its intention to commercialize DSC.
Our relationship with the built environment is evolving. Initially, the building industry focused on products designed to conserve energy, said Marc Thomas, chief executive officer of Dyesol Inc. and general manager of Dyesols Global Glass Business. In the coming years, buildings will integrate power generation onto products used in walls, roofs and windows, radically changing the function of a buildings envelope. By partnering with major building materials manufacturers such as Tata Steel, Dyesol will hasten that change and forever alter the way we look at buildings.
Tata Steel, which has supplied building materials to Manchester Uniteds soccer stadium, IKEA and Tesco stores, as well as other commercial buildings, partners with Dyesol to develop DSC materials at a joint research facility in Europe. To cap the completion of the R&D pilot phase, the companies joint team of scientists and engineers recently unveiled the worlds largest DSC module.
DSC represents the emerging third generation of solar technology and is the first technology that promises to bring building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) into the mainstream. With lower material cost to manufacture and better energy yield in low and diffuse light conditions, DSC promises to make solar generation ubiquitous by incorporating generation into building, auto and industrial materials.
The technology can be incorporated into roofs, façades, and window products, eliminating the need to add additional surface area for solar generation. Due to its ability to capture diffuse light, DSC can be used on all sides of a building to generate power throughout the day. Dyesol is focused on supporting its global partnerships with top tier corporations in the roof, façade and window markets.
