UK-based organic photovoltaic (OPV) technology developer Solar Press is investigating the potential use of flexible plastic-based OPV modules to be used for an energy harvesting application to supply power for remote, autonomous sensors within buildings.

The project brings together partners with capabilities in low power sensors, OPV technology and energy management. It also pro- vides the potential for the low-cost ‘fit-and-forget’ deployment of sensors for carbon dioxide (CO₂), humidity and temperature monitoring as part of a smart wireless sensor network.

This project will focus on the development of self-powered wireless CO₂ sensors to monitor indoor air quality and improve ventilation and to reduce building energy consumption.

Solar Press is partnering with two UK-based companies – CO_{2 sensors manufacturer Gas Sensing Solutions and energy management systems Seamless Sensing.}

The project is supported through a grant from the Technology Strategy Board, in the UK, which is an executive nondepartmental public body, established by the UK government in 2007 and, in turn, is sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The rest of the consortium includes end-user assessment by Schneider Electric Industries, Sontay and Ecotechnics.

OPV technology is more versatile than most conventional PV technologies, as it functions with solar and indoor levels of illumination, as well as with direct and scattered light, which makes it suited to indoor energy harvesting.

The key objective of the project is to improve Solar Press’s OPV formulation for indoor use. Its flexibility and conformability, low weight and opportunity for custom design make OPV particularly attractive for integration into sensing devices. Other activities by Solar Press include developing a power management interface to increase extraction and storage in batteries and supercapacitors of harvested energy to power the sensor and wireless transmitter.

“Our recent success in developing OPV modules for low-light applications gives us confidence that our OPV formulations, architectures and processes can be further optimised to provide clear advantages for energy-harvesting applications,” says Solar Press CEO Dr Chris Harris.

Maintaining the ambient environment in offices and buildings consumes up to 40% of the world’s primary energy, so using OPV technology to power sensors in low ambient-light environments could have a significant impact on reducing the overall cost and environmental impact of heating and ventilation systems, he concludes.