A bifacial flexible module, capable of absorbing light from both sides.

A 0.1m^2 flexible module, capable of generating over 14W.

SLIVER solar cells are a new type of solar cell with the potential to revolutionise the global solar power industry. They were developed at the Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems with funding assistance from Origin Energy. SLIVER technology uses a revolutionary process to achieve high efficiencies while significantly reducing the amount of expensive silicon in solar cells.  Solar modules made from SLIVERs can be lightweight, flexible and transparent and offer imaginative opportunities for building integration and other applications.  By substantially improving the cost competitiveness of photovoltaics compared to electricity derived from fossil fuels, slivers have the potential to revolutionise the photovoltaics industry and simultaneously address the critical environmental issue of global warming.

A one-square-meter solar panel using SLIVER Cell technology needs the equivalent of two silicon wafers to convert sunlight to 140 watts of power. By comparison, a conventional solar panel needs about 60 silicon wafers to achieve this performance. By dramatically reducing the amount of expensive pure silicon, the largest cost in solar panels today, this new technology represents a major advance in solar power technology. The unique attributes of SLIVER Cell technology could open many new SLIVER Cell applications, in addition to conventional rooftop and off-grid uses, including:

• Transparent SLIVER Cell panes to replace building windows and cladding
• Flexible, roll-up solar panels
• High-voltage solar panels, and
• Solar powered aircraft, satellite and surveillance systems.