The CSIRO has opened a $6.8 million facility in Clayton, VIC dedicated to taking its printed flexible solar technology out of the lab and helping meet the growing demand for renewable energy across sectors.

CSIRO executive director, digital, national facilities and collections Elanor Huntington says the CSIRO Printed Photovoltaic (PV) Facility is the newest addition to CSIRO’s suite of critical infrastructure.

“Through CSIRO’s Printed PV Facility, industry partners can access both researcher expertise and specialised equipment to improve and apply flexible solar technology in novel ways, anywhere there is sunlight,” Elanor says.

“It’s exciting to see the techniques that enabled another great CSIRO invention to now be available to partners in industry to make a difference in Australia and globally. This not only offers incredible opportunities for Australian manufacturers but also contributes to addressing global energy challenges and advancing the transition to net zero.”

In addition to printed flexible solar, the lab is equipped to explore other fields that use printable materials for battery and hydrogen technologies, opening doors to a wider range of innovative applications.

The Printed PV Facility received funding from Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) via the Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics (ACAP). More information about the CSIRO Printed PV Facility can be found at the CSIRO website.