Novel materials enable lead free solar module production.

Our project is driven by both a commercial and a legislative needs which we see as a significant opportunity to ourselves and our current and perspective partners. In particular, the aim is to develop, test and validate a novel conductive element to contribute to a major cost reduction of solar energy panel by reducing the use of silver by up to 90% and the use of lead by 100%. This will not only improve the competitiveness of solar panel manufacturers compared to those who offer solutions based on conventional energy but also will contribute to environmental goal of using as little lead as possible in the mass-market electronics. This proposed project is a continuation of a successful NFR-funded project Novel Conductive Adhesives Technology Platform for Solar Industry (pSICAT). It was confirmed that the abovementioned project ended at the TRL 4 level. In this Eurostars project, we are aiming at bringing the technology to TRL6-7 level, with the goal of commercializing the technology within 2 years post-project. The market forecasts are very favorable: the production of commercial solar panels in Europe and worldwide has been on the rise for over 8 years now and is forecast to keep growing with the rate of at least 20% per year (in Europe) for at least 10 more years. In 2015, there were 57 GWp installed in various solar panels worldwide. It is estimated than more than 2,000,000 kg of lead were used to produce the solar panel modules in 2015. We therefore estimate that the total current annual market for the proposed LeadOut conductive adhesive material is more than 1,000,000 kg per year and the demand will increase at about 20% per year. The price of the adhesive could well be in the order of ?1,000 per kg wholesale, including a 30-40% markup for the manufacturer / licensee.