Italian Job for Dublin Consortium

SMARTOP See's the Brightest Researchers Working with Industry to Pioneer Power Supply for Fiat

Scientists from University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin and Imperial College in the UK, have agreed a €3 million deal with Centro Richerche Fiat (CRF), the innovation and research arm of the car manufacturer, to develop solar panels that can be incorporated into the roof surface of automotives, as a means of generating alternative sources of energy for vehicles by converting light to power.

The scientists are part of an international consortium which includes Sandyford-based Irish energy technology company SolarPrint, German semiconductor company, Infineon Technologies, and auto components supplier, Webasto Product.

The project, which has been titled the ‘SMARTOP' initiative, is focussed on the development of what is described as a ‘smart roof'. Specifically, the research element of the new ‘smart roof,' which is funded by the European Commission, is to develop a ‘smart' sunroof that can integrate low cost photo voltaic (PV) cells, energy storage systems such as lithium batteries, and other devices that will be used to power on board devices in cars. maximise energy efficiencies and to ensure driver comfort and fuel economy, both for fully electrical (FEV) and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.

The sunroof will function through the installation of SolarPrint's lightweight, low cost solar panels, which will be used to power compact lithium batteries that will in turn power on board technologies. SolarPrint will utilise its unique dye sensitised solar cell (DSSC) technology in the SMARTOP concept.

SolarPrint develops photo-voltaic energy technologies, designed to convert light from any source into energy. SolarPrint's technology has been devised to work in the same way that a plant, using its leaves, converts light to energy, using photosynthesis. The company develops DSSC, a third generation printable and flexible solar cell technology, which can be produced using cheap raw materials at a highly competitive cost. Based in Sandyford, Dublin, SolarPrint's nanotechnology-based technology has applications across a range of industries, in consumer electronic devices, in the construction industry, and in the automotive sector

Dr. Mazhar Bari, Chief Executive Officer, (pictured above with Mr. Conor Lenihan TD, Minister for Science, Technology & Innovation and SolarPrint Chemist Michelle Byrne) SolarPrint, said: "The SMARTOP project has been set up to create a technology that will revolutionise the auto industry and the cars that we drive, by converting everyday light into a form of power. Simply put, in the not too distant future, cars will be partially powered by PV technologies, which will have significant knock on benefits for consumers, manufacturers and society as a whole."

"The continued depletion of the world's fossil fuels means that power hungry industries have become compelled to look at alternative sources of energy to power their products. The auto industry is a perfect example of this, with manufacturers looking at forms of energy other than petrol that can be used in cars. The SMARTOP project is truly a revolutionary step forward for the automotive sector," said Dr. Bari.

CRF was established in 1978 as the Fiat Group's centre of expertise for innovation, research and development. Now an internationally recognised centre of excellence, CRF's work constitutes a strategic lever for the Group's businesses, enhancing performance through the development and transfer of innovative content, which makes the Group's products both competitive and distinctive.

Mr. Vito Lambertini, New Scouting Materials and Nanomaterials, CRF, said: "The smart sun roofs that will eventually be installed in cars offer a number of important advantages, in terms of energy that is both generated and saved, the lower cost of the component materials, and the overall comfort and benefits for the driver.

Also, the energy generated and stored using this smart roofs concept is expected to reduce the CO2 emission with related fuel consumption by up to 15 per cent. For these reasons, at Fiat, we believe that this technology will be a major addition to our product lines in the future," said Mr. Lambertini added.

Mr. Lenihan said: "There has been considerable discussion in recent months about the contribution of innovation-oriented industries to Ireland's economy and this deal is a perfect example of this. As a country and as a Government, we need to do all we can to continue to support Irish, globally focused firms, like SolarPrint, as they develop closer links with major international enterprises".

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