Risø DTU and Mekoprint give away 10,000 organic-photovoltaic flashlights at LOPE-C

Roskilde, Denmark--Risø DTU and Mekoprint (Støvring, Denmark) have fabricated and distributed 10,000 free polymer photovoltaic (PV)-powered flashlights. Risø DTU is the National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, at the Technical University of Denmark; Mekoprint is a maker of plastic-membrane-based devices (such as membrane switches and keyboards, nameplates, and graphic overlays) as well as metal parts.

The distribution of the flashlights was aimed at highlighting the feasibility and low cost of the mass production of organic PV cells. The 10,000 flashlights were given away at the Large-area, Organic and Printed Electronics Convention (LOPE-C, 28-30 June 2011; Frankfurt, Germany). The project, called "Industrialization of polymer solar cells" was funded by the Danish Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Programme.

The flashlight is the size of a credit card and the light source is a white LED. The flashlight is powered by a lithium-polymer battery, which is charged by polymer solar cells via charging circuitry. The distribution highlights the results achieved by Risø DTU in partnership with Mekoprint in terms of roll-to-roll manufactured polymer PV cells.