In May 2013 Dyesol announced a "game changing" technical breakthrough by achieving a solid state dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) efficiency of 11.3% at full sun. This is indeed a significant performance improvement given the fact that solid state DSSC efficiencies wavered in the low single digits for several years and improvements were incremental. Incremental improvements were also achieved in the liquid electrolyte DSSCs as well, that kept the technology at a level of about 12% efficiency.
The situation changed around 2011, when large improvements were achieved over the course of only a year, putting a 15% efficiency solid state DSSC within easy reach almost overnight and currently having certified efficiencies of 14.1%.
Comparison of efficiency improvement of liquid electrolyte versus solid state DSSCs
At this level of module performance the technology can potentially be grid competitive especially since, according to Michael Graetzel, perovskite based DSSCs have the potential to compete with first and second generation solar technologies in terms of performance, and are expected to reach even higher efficiency levels very quickly.
TASNEE investing in Dyesol
These developments are coming at the same time as the announcements last month that Tasnee, also known as The National Industrialization Company of Saudi Arabia, confirmed its intention to invest up to an additional AUD$16 million in Dyesol, in addition to the AUD$4 million Tasnee invested in the Australian renewable energy innovator in February. The additional investment is envisaged to help the Dyesol transition towards solid state electrolytes and reaping the benefits of that transition, which include a much discussed avoidance of liquids and the inherent challenges in keeping them tightly sealed and safe from leakages in the long-term.
At the same time, the use of solid state electrolytes are not expected to impact the unique selling points of DSSCs, that include optimized energy harvesting under conditions of low level lighting or extreme angles of incidence. Together with the elimination of worries about solvent leakage, these optimizations could warrant the development of optimized solutions that will allow for easier, faster commercialization of the technology.
Existing target markets such as indoor applications in building integration or wireless sensor networks will still be applicable, but due to increased efficiency and power output, it is now conceivable that outdoor applications can also become much more relevant as the technology becomes more competitive with first and second generation solar technologies such as crystalline silicon platforms or thin film inorganic technologies such as CIGS and CdTe.
For more information on energy harvesting applications for dye sensitized solar cells, attend the IDTechEx Energy Harvesting Europe 2014 conference in Berlin, Germany. 1-2 April - www.EnergyHarvestingEurope.com 
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