Queen Mary scientists collaborate with Power Roll to advance perovskite solar technology
by Sophie Jenkins
London, UK (SPX) Feb 26, 2025
Queen Mary University of London has joined forces with innovative solar startup Power Roll to transition perovskite solar film from laboratory research to large-scale application.
Perovskite is widely regarded as the future of solar energy due to its lightweight, flexible, and high-efficiency properties, enabling installations in locations unsuitable for conventional silicon panels.
Traditional silicon-based solar panels are rigid and heavy, restricting installation options. Nearly 30% of commercial rooftops worldwide cannot support their weight, contributing to the fact that only 2% of buildings globally utilize solar energy. This is despite the fact that the sun delivers enough energy in one hour to power the world for a year.
Furthermore, silicon panel production carries a significant carbon footprint, and 91% of these panels originate from China, presenting supply chain vulnerabilities for nations aiming to diversify energy sources.
However, perovskite’s potential has been hampered by manufacturing challenges. The very attributes that make it an attractive alternative to silicon also complicate its large-scale production, with defects in fabrication posing the biggest obstacle to widespread adoption.
Power Roll has developed an innovative approach using microgrooves and vacuum forming to produce ultra-thin perovskite film-less than a millimeter thick and 25 times lighter than the lightest silicon panels. This miniaturization makes quality control especially challenging, as each individual solar cell is 1/50th the width of a human hair, making visual inspection impractical.
Queen Mary scientists, led by Dr. Stoichko Dimitrov, are developing advanced in-situ optical analysis technology, which Power Roll will integrate into its manufacturing process to enhance quality control and research efforts.
Dr. Dimitrov explains, “The technology will analyze how light interacts with the material as it’s being produced, thereby providing essential data for monitoring and improving the quality of the film produced in real time. This will enable Power Roll to scale up production and make perovskite film a reality.”
Dr. Dimitrov was the first to develop portable in-situ optical analysis technology to enhance the performance of printed photovoltaic perovskite materials. This partnership marks the first industrial application of the technology, accelerating the optimization process beyond traditional research and development timelines.
Dr. Dave Barwick, Technical Manager at Power Roll, adds, “Quality control is the key to turning perovskite from concept to reality. We’re proud to be working with Queen Mary University of London to achieve this.”
He continues, “We’re making solar that goes where other solar solutions can’t, and we’re doing it without using rare and precious earth materials. Queen Mary’s expertise in optical analysis will help us scale up production by ensuring every microscopic solar cell is of the highest quality.”
The implications for both the environment and the economy are significant. This lightweight perovskite film can be deployed in numerous locations, unlocking previously untapped solar potential. Power Roll estimates that the UK alone has 12 billion square meters of low-load-bearing rooftops capable of hosting solar energy systems. If utilized, these rooftops could generate renewable electricity at a quarter of the current grid cost, representing a market opportunity of approximately Pounds 250 billion.
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