Ultra light solar panels! Its real! At Melbourne university a group of researchers supervised by graduate assistant Brandon MacDonald produced the first prototypes of ultra light flexible and printable solar panels

The panel The discovery is obtaining patent protection and could revolutionise the solar energy world. The cells obtained in Australia are the result of nanotechnologies, since each panel is made of nano- crystals which have a diameter of just a few millionths of a millimetre on a special ink, on which the solar panels can be printed

By choosing the right combination of ink and surface ( glass, plastic or metal) it is possible to create efficient solar cells using less than 1% of the materials that are at present necessary to build traditional solar panels.

When the liquid dries it leaves a film of cadmium telluride, and any defects formed in the drying process can be corrected with layers of paint. This printable film is so flexible that it can be applied to any surface. These nanochristals are cadmium telluride semiconductors, a higlhly photo-absorbing material. They can be suspended in a liquid that can be applied on different surfaces. Details

Cost reduction ( in particular building the panels) Cheap installation and conversion systems of solar energy can be directly integrated into the walls and windows of new and old buildings Easily affordable solar systems available on a large scale Advantages

NIF company could use the patent of this innovative product for the Integration with old buildings, leaving the outside intact, in contrast with the impact of traditional panels. Installation of new surfaces that combine modern design with a good exploitation of solar energy,