The Solar Aviator
Lead Research Organisation:
Newcastle University
Department Name: Sch of Natural & Environmental Sciences
Abstract
The Solar Aviator project seeks to demonstrate a lightweight solution to develop light-powered and wireless electronic devices used by defence personnel for communication and data acquisition. The Royal Airforce require an ongoing energy source for ground troops who secure and protect airfields. Such operations require ground troops to carry a lot of heavy kit. Additionally, where
personnel are in the field and battery energy sources run out, light weight solar energy sources would help maintain contact on operations such as an evacuation. We have developed a solution to this operational need: printable solar cells which can be deposited on fabric, plastic, or foil for integration into portable electronic devices or wearable technology under various light conditions. This
project exploits recent results proving that the power generated under ambient light by a high efficiency photovoltaics with the area equivalent to a mobile phone can power sensors and IoT devices. We now propose a wearable self-powered communication technology.
personnel are in the field and battery energy sources run out, light weight solar energy sources would help maintain contact on operations such as an evacuation. We have developed a solution to this operational need: printable solar cells which can be deposited on fabric, plastic, or foil for integration into portable electronic devices or wearable technology under various light conditions. This
project exploits recent results proving that the power generated under ambient light by a high efficiency photovoltaics with the area equivalent to a mobile phone can power sensors and IoT devices. We now propose a wearable self-powered communication technology.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Elizabeth Gibson (Principal Investigator) |
| Description | We have found an encapsulation method to protect perovskite PV making them safer to use in the field and extending their lifetime to enable us to apply them to RAF use cases. |
| Exploitation Route | We are discussing the potential commercial routes with our business development manager and have applied for further funding from the Impact Accelerator Account. We are also talking to leaders in defence with regard to sponsoring the next step in the scale up and field testing. |
| Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Chemicals Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Energy Environment |
| Description | Network Plus for Sustainable Solar Energy Systems (SES) |
| Amount | £425,409 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/Z533154/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2024 |
| End | 12/2026 |
| Description | Biochar from University of Nottingham |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Aim: To demonstrate the feasibility for recycled components (recovered carbon black, graphite, TiO2, silica) from recycled materials (e.g. tyres, batteries, paints) to be applied in prototype printable solar cells. This is a feasibility study to demonstrate that the carbon electrode in "triple stack" printable PV devices can be prepared entirely from recycled materials. This work builds on ongoing work in the Energy Materials Lab (e.g. ERC starting grant) and previous development of an outdoor testing facility (project ViTAL Living Lab) to evaluate emerging photovoltaics in real world conditions. We currently have minimodules at ca. TRL5 which have been tested at RAF Leeming and shown to have promising performance. Our MOD partners confirmed that they are of interest in a defence setting by providing a source of power both in a UK setting and when deployed overseas. In a previous IAA project and a UKRI NICER flex-fund feasibility study, we demonstrated that recycled materials could be incorporated into these devices. Our proof-of-concept project with Wastefront (a rubber waste recycling company building a large tyre recycling plant in Sunderland) showed that recovered carbon black material from tyre pyrolysis (without even purification) could be applied in our triple mesoscopic stack perovskite solar cells with comparable performance to virgin material (ACS Sustainable Resource Management DOI: 10.1021/acssusresmgt.4c00422). In this work (TRL3-4), we discovered that there are contributions to the performance by (1) the chemical contaminants which affect the workfunction and therefore VOC of the device, (2) textural properties which affected the infiltration of the light absorbing component, (3) graphitic content which affected the conductivity of the electrode. This is important to energy security since most of the components can be sourced in the UK and the devices themselves can be recycled. This new project seeks to test a variety of different carbon samples recovered from biomass. By screening the device characteristics of perovskite solar cells with the different samples as the counter electrode, we can understand how the properties of the material determine the performance. The carbon black materials from our partners will be applied in printable inks for scaleable deposition (screen printing/slot die coating) onto conductive glass substrates for lab-scale solar cells. We will conduct laboratory experiments to benchmark our carbon ink vs commercial inks using commercial Elcocarb (device: capacitance, Voc, Jsc, FF, efficiency, EQE; paste: quality control, particle size, graphitic properties, porosity, concentration, surface chemistry, VB energy of the carbon and the characteristics of non-carbon components) on performance metrics. Having a wide variety of samples from different feedstocks provides us with a means to (1) identify the relationship between impurities (N, S etc.) affect the work-function of the carbon electrode and therefor the open circuit potential of the device. (2) explore how the graphitic content affects the conductivity of the film and the fill factor of the device. (3) explore how the particle size and porosity can be tailored to optimise the mechanical properties of the film and the infiltration of the perovskite precursor which determines the short circuit current of the device. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners have provided >12 samples of biochar sourced from pyrolysis of various materials - these have different chemical and graphitic content. |
| Impact | In progress |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | RAF Leeming |
| Organisation | Royal Air Force (RAF) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Our ViTAL Living Lab and EPSRC/ERC Solar Aviator projects combined the scale up (0.1 cm² cells to 520 cm² modules) and optimisation of emerging PV technology with outdoor testing at RAF Leeming and enabled us to reach TRL5. Our NICER Flex Fund and EPSRC IAA proof of concept work with Wastefront (tyre recycling facility in Sunderland) demonstrated how recovered carbon black from waste tyres can replace virgin carbon black in the TMS without performance loss -{(DOI:10.1021/acssusresmgt.4c00422)}-. We also identified a humidity-related degradation tracking mechanism, based on open-circuit voltage, which is crucial for scheduling maintenance. |
| Collaborator Contribution | RAF Leeming provided user cases, space and access to their estate (and partners) to test our devices in a defence setting. |
| Impact | We aim to deliver a licensable technology and create a North East spin out opportunity for our portable, lightweight, power generation solution that can be manufactured and deployed in the UK. Device improvements, together with testing at scale in the field will increase the commercial viability and attract further investment. Our technology addresses an operational need in the RAF and we will trial lightweight solar modules with 5G compatible, portable communication systems (provided by RAF partners such as aql and Akhter) in the field in collaboration with RAFX and the Royal Signals to support their Net Zero 2040 commitments. the RAF have identified a strategic need for portable, lightweight power generation, using UK-manufactured technology to provide both an operational advantage and energy security. As RAF Leeming is to be the first Net Zero airbase, they are an ideal co-creation partner and end-user for our technology. Our devices are currently at TRL/MRL 5: small scale prototypes with 10% efficiency and mini-modules (520 cm²) with 5% efficiency that we can assemble in larger arrays (30x30 cm, see attachment). Field testing confirmed promising performance under low-light and we have addressed the stability and reliability (PSCs are sensitive to environmental factors like oxygen, UV light, temperature, and moisture) through an encapsulation approach that gives us a leading edge over our competitors. By the end of this project we will have reached TRL/MRL6 by improving the design and validating the technology with potential users in a real environment. Limited outdoor studies, particularly in the UK, have slowed commercialization and our understanding of their real-world performance. Our home-built testing facility (ViTAL Living Lab) captures data on power output, device stability and environmental conditions (air temperature, humidity, and device surface temperature). |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | CPI electrification partnership workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Round table presentations on shared capability and plans for future collaborations. The NNZA was presented as a tool for collaboration. Recognised that more discussions with investors are needed to accelerate impact in terms of scale. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Final Event of the Solar Energy Society |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Speakers and discussions on the evolution of the photovoltaics development from 1974-2024, held at the Royal Institution, London |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | The Crown Estate & Ncl Research Strengths |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Round-table discussions on possible collaboration with Crown Estate, aligned to ViTAL framework for living lab and co-creation with stakeholders. Discussed applications of new solar technology. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |