Halocell was awarded by Energy Tech Review as "Top Solar Energy Solution Provider in APAC 2024"

Together with the Award Energy Tech Review also published an Article about Halocell written by Charlotte Smith titled "Charting a way from Silicone to Pervoskite"

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Halocell Energy plans to change the fabric of the solar power industry by replacing traditional silicon with more efficient and environmentally friendly perovskites.

But why the shift to perovskites?

Traditional silicon-based panels, while dependable, convert only about 22 percent of sunlight into electricity and require substantial energy for manufacturing.

Perovskites-based solar cells, on the other hand, have the potential for higher conversion—exceeding 25 percent—but are markedly less energy-intensive to produce. This shift boosts the electrical yield while aligning more closely with environmental sustainability, marking a pivotal advancement in solar technology.

Discussing this progressive shift, CEO Paul Moonie states, “Silicon has served us well,but given the need for higher energy efficiency, reduced carbon footprints and the mitigation of resource scarcity, we cannot remain tethered to a technology with inherent limitations. As the sun rises on perovskites, we are committed to harnessing its full potential to make our solar solutions silicon-free.”

“OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, WE HAVE REFINED OUR STRATEGY INTO A WELL DEFINED, STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS. THIS HAS BEEN A CRITICAL STEP FOR US TO GAIN MARKET ACCEPTANCE FOR OUR PEROVSKITE-BASED PRODUCTS, WHICH ARE RELATIVELY NEW TO THE INDUSTRY”

Transitioning to Perovskites

Perovskite is a relatively new material and needs to gain acceptance in the energy market.Halocell has a two-stage transition strategy to build a commercial business while the market learns the potential of perovskites.

Halocell’s first perovskite products will be for low-light indoor applications. Small perovskite panels can be used to power small electronics and IoT devices,potentially eliminating the need for 100’s of millions of toxic batteries.

Perovskites are differentiated from silicon in that they work particularly well in lowlight.

The other strategy is to combine perovskite solar cells (PSC) with silicon wafers,providing a more efficient version of an established existing product.Perovskites have many advantages over silicon, so the longer-term goal is a pure perovskite product.

Perovskites can be ‘tuned’ to absorb light at different wavelengths than silicon, allowing a perovskite silicon tandem to produce more energy from the same area.

Efficient light harvesting is just one part of Halocell’s perovskite advantage.

Leveraging a perovskite-based technology also increases the versatility of solar panels.Unlike traditional silicon, which is rigid and fragile and must be manufactured into panels with potential material losses during wafer cutting and handling,Halocell’s PSCs are lightweight and flexible. This easy malleability allows for more cost-effective roll-to-roll manufacturing to reduce waste and simplify production. The thin film, low cost perovskite material can be combined with silicon until the technology is accepted and Halocell’s production advances to produce a pure perovskite product.

Updating Everyday Power Solutions

Halocell has charted an ambitious commercialization strategy to bring its PSCs to market. The team, skilled in technical innovation and commercial execution, assures that PSC development aligns with scalable manufacturing practices. Current construction of a pilot plant, which will soon produce PSCs at commercial rates, signifies Halocell’s imminent market entry. This facility marks a critical transition from research to commercial availability.

“Over the past few years, we have refined our strategy into a well-defined, step-by-step process. This has been a critical step for us to gain market acceptance for our perovskite-based products, which are relatively new to the industry,” explains Fontaine.

Following the plant’s introduction, Halocell now plans to target applications in low-light environments, like IoT devices, small electronics, remote controls and alternatives to traditional batteries. This initial focus taps into a broad market eager for self-sustaining power solutions for everyday objects. With Halocell’s PSCs demonstrating up to 40 percent efficiency at the cell level—commercial versions expected to achieve around 25 percent—these cells vastly outperform traditional silicon photovoltaics in low-light conditions,which typically offer only 3 to 4 percent efficiency.

The first offerings in low-light environments address a critical need for durable,sustainable power solutions and mark a significant step toward reducing the environmental impact of disposable batteries. However, that’s just the start of the journey.

Among other innovations, Halocell has introduced enhanced remote controls equipped with indoor solar cells. These devices harness ambient light to maintain their charge, addressing the annoyance of frequent battery replacements and significantly reducing waste. Collaborating with a leading TV manufacturer,integrating these solar cells in their remotes has demonstrated the potential to prevent 100 million batteries from ending up in landfills over seven years.

Additionally, the company is developing a recyclable perovskite ‘universal IoT power supply’ which will be able to power many standard IoT devices eliminating the need for toxic batteries. For example, the retail sector could gain from PSC powered electronic shelf labels, which offer an alternative to traditional price labeling methods. These innovative labels use their ample surface area and ambient store lighting to maintain their charge, simplifying operations by eliminating manual price updates and significantly reducing the environmental footprint associated with battery use.

The potential for PSC integration spans various environments, from industrial facilities to medical sectors, particularly in IoT devices. Through collaborative efforts, strategic partnerships and iterative design, Halocell is integrating these solar materials into the next generation of products. This integration promises improved longevity, reduced environmental impact and increased user convenience.

“SILICON HAS SERVED US WELL, BUT GIVEN THE NEED FOR HIGHER ENERGY EFFICIENCY, REDUCED CARBON FOOTPRINTS AND THE MITIGATION OF RESOURCE SCARCITY, WE CANNOT REMAIN TETHERED TO A TECHNOLOGY WITH INHERENT LIMITATIONS. AS THE SUN RISES ON PEROVSKITES, WE ARE COMMITTED TO HARNESSING ITS FULL POTENTIAL TO MAKE OUR SOLAR SOLUTIONS SILICON-FREE”

A Strategic Blueprint for Full-Sun PSCs

Halocell aims to integrate its PSCs into the architectural vision of enhancing buildings’ functionality and aesthetics. By embedding PSCs into building structures—walls, roofs and fences—it develops a building-integrated photovoltaic solution that stands out for its versatility and lightweight design. This integration promises a more seamless and aesthetically pleasing application of solar technology and aims to transform how buildings generate and manage energy.

Reaching this milestone will validate the viability of perovskites and set the stage for an ambitious expansion into full-sun products and the establishment of extensive manufacturing facilities globally.

Accessibility Across the Board

The PSC approach originates from Moonie’s vision, emphasizing perovskite’s crucial role in tackling the worldwide imperative for sustainable energy. It addresses significant concerns over sovereign security in energy supply, highlighting the reliance on a single country for over 90 percent of silicon used in solar cells. This poses risks of price manipulation and underscores the urgency of transitioning toward silicon-free solutions for energy sustainability.

Moonie highlights the pressing demand for renewable energy solutions that align with the general quest for affordable energy sources. “Previously, while working in India, I witnessed firsthand the country’s overwhelming demand for energy—irrespective of its source. This experience ignited my passion for addressing energy poverty. Ensuring access to energy stands at the heart of human development and this mission has become my primary goal.”

The technology championed by Halocell stands on the brink of this transformative growth. It promises a rapid expansion once its PSCs achieve widespread acceptance and understanding, signaling a potential tipping point in renewable energy adoption. This innovative approach reimagines renewable energy production by integrating the manufacturing process of solar materials directly within the application site. This model circumvents the logistical and economic challenges associated with traditional solar plant construction and proposes a scalable solution that evolves with production demands.

Halocell Energy showcases a pathway to resilience against political and economic influences on raw material prices while offering a scalable and efficient solution to meet growing energy demands. This vision for a future where energy is both sustainable and accessible underscores the company’s commitment to innovation and its role in advancing human development through energy independence.

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