With its millimeter of thickness, the Belgian company EnFoil has created something that could be the future of solar energy. These panels are not only as thin as a sheet of paper, but they are also flexible and lightweight. Think carefully before you say that this is just a beautiful piece of technology to admire: these panels are poised to change the way we power our world.
One millimeter from the future
EnFoil's ultra-thin solar panels open up new possibilities for using solar cells on surfaces where traditional solar cells were unsuitable. Surfaces including truck roofs, for example. In the past, solar cells for truck roofs (as well as buildings) were available in standard formats, often flat and fixed in size.
EnFoil solar cells are available in various shapes and sizes, offering much greater flexibility in installation: they can even cover corrugated tiles, or swimming pool covers. And despite their slim design, they are extremely durable.
The technology behind a “solar sheet”
Secondo Innovation Origins, EnFoil's solar panels are based on CIGS technology. CIGS is an abbreviation for the four elements used to make the panels: Copper (Copper), Indio, Gallium and Selenio. This combination of elements makes the panels foldable and light as a sheet but really robust. Thin film solar cells are also more shock resistant, making them a reliable and sustainable option.
Il European Research Council recognized the potential of EnFoil's solar panels and awarded them funding worth €150.000. Hasselt University will use the funding to hire a researcher for further product development. This financing highlights industry experts' confidence in EnFoil's innovative solar panel technology. All that remains is to see them in production and in action: the future, it seems, can arrive even one millimeter at a time.
