18 June 2019
Verditek PLC
("Verditek" or the "Company")
Verditek and Paragraf announce the world's first Graphene Integrated PV cell and a new Joint Development Program
Paragraf Ltd ("Paragraf") the leading Cambridge based experts in graphene electronics technology development, and Verditek plc, (AIM:VDTK) the clean technology company, have been working together under a joint development program (RNS Number: 9941Z) to harness the significant advantages of graphene to improve the performance of solar power generation over state of the art cells and modules.
Paragraf's proprietary manufacturing process of large scale, high quality, graphene has been applied to Verditek's solar technology and the partners are pleased to announce the successful completion of their first development project. The program has developed unique methodologies to successfully produce graphene on photovoltaic Proof of Concept (PoC) cells, to harness the superior electrical and mechanical properties that graphene can impart. The revolutionary cell works without the encumbrance of metallic busbars or backplates required in conventional PV cells.
The new cell takes advantage of the superior quality of Paragraf graphene and proprietary manufacturing process to replace conventional materials with graphene, finally enabling the properties initially cited in the Nobel prize for Physics awarded in 2010 to be realized at an industrially significant scale.
Further to this breakthrough, Paragraf and Verditek have agreed to a second joint development project (JDP) to improve the performance of the cells, develop the opportunity to file patents and, upon attainment of additional performance targets, commence commercial discussions for industrial manufacture and application of the new material. The second JDP is underway with a fast-track schedule of objectives.
Dr Simon Thomas, CEO of Paragraf commented: "The potential of graphene to significantly improve the performance of today's technologies is enormous. Applying Paragraf technology to mature materials can create opportunities for improved performance. Our second project follows on seamlessly from our previous work and compliments our insights and understanding of graphene-solar cell combination. Our developments with Verditek will continue to improve on what we have achieved and demonstrate the potential Graphene can deliver when great science and engineering are combined".
Lord David Willetts, Chairman of Verditek commented: "Verditek is now manufacturing light-weight robust photo-voltaic cells. These can be deployed in many more ways than heavy conventional cells - such as on weaker, temporary, or old roofing. We have now successfully applied graphene to a photo-voltaic (PV) cell. Graphene can enable our PV cells to be even lighter and more efficient. It enhances the performance of a PV cell by making it more conductive and eliminate the need for the electrical conductors which reduce the area of the cell actually exposed to sun-light. We have now developed the technique for applying graphene and produced a working proof of concept silicon/graphene integrated PV cell.
We are now launching the next stage of our R&D to increase the performance of these new PV cells so they are more efficient than conventional cells. At present conventional silicon PV cells convert approximately 21-23% of the energy they received into electricity. We aim to get to better than 25%. That is a big increase in the amount of electricity generated from a given area of PV cell. Our lightweight and efficient PV cells will then be used in a much wider range of settings. Our aim is to be able to apply them to consumer electronics such as laptops so that they can be self-charging. This is a massive advance for green energy - and for consumers who will find it much easier to access solar power than ever before."
To listen to David Willetts, Chair of Verditek talk to BRR Media about today's breakthrough and the future opportunities click the link https://verditek.com/
Enquiries:
Verditek plc RH Lord David Willets FRS (Non-Executive Chairman) Dr Geoffrey Nesbitt (Chief Executive Officer) |
Tel: +44 (0)20 7129 1110
[email protected] |
Paragraf Ltd |
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Simon Thomas (Chief Executive Officer) |
+44 (0)1487 842 117 [email protected] |
WH Ireland Limited (NOMAD and Broker) |
Tel: +44 (0)20 7220 1666 |
Chris Hardie Matthew Chan |
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About Verditek plc
AIM listed Verditek plc is a holding company with three businesses operating within the clean technology sector. The Company has a unique liquid gas absorption technology expected to revolutionize the global CO2 capture industry; two solar manufacturing production lines in San Marino each of 25MWp (total 50MWp) producing what is believed to be an innovative and un-paralleled solar PV building material; and a pioneering filtration deodorization technology, which is commercially proven and tackles a wide range of odours within air and water at a high efficiency.
For more information please visit or contact the following: https://www.verditek.plc.uk/
About Paragraf ltd.
Paragraf is a spin out from the high-profile Centre for Gallium Nitride group of Professor Sir Colin Humphreys, in the department of Materials Science at the University of Cambridge. The novel IP and know-how developed by Paragraf is starting to deliver the extraordinary capabilities of two-dimensional materials, improving current technologies and enabling long speculated, potentially life changing applications. Through Paragraf's breakthrough, high impact applications, capable of improving the quality of life globally, are being brought within reach, for example delivery of significantly improved efficiency green power generation, such as solar energy harvesting.
For more information, or just to say hello, contact: [email protected], or visit paragraf.com
The information communicated within this announcement is deemed to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014. Upon the publication of this announcement, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.
