Heliatek solar films awarded with World Economic Forum's Technology Pioneers

Heliatek, the Dresden-based German company that produces ultra-light, flexible and less than 1 mm thick Photovoltaic solar films, was awarded today as one of the World Economic Forum's "technology pioneers", a selection of the world's most innovative companies. Heliatek is a spin-off from the Technical University of Dresden and the University of Ulm. The company is a leader in the field of Organic Electronics Energy holding the world record efficiency of 12%. It started commercialization of its solar films in July 2014. 

 

The tandem cell: two solar cells stacked on top of each other. The active layers are only around 250 nm thick. (www.heliatek.com)

 

Heliatek was chosen by a professional jury from among hundreds of candidates as one of the 49 selected companies and was the only German company to do so. Thanks to its selection, it will have access to the most influential and sought-after business and political network in the world, and be invited to the World Economic Forum's "Summer Davos" in Dalian, China, this September, or the Annual Meeting in Davos in January.

Thibaud Le Séguillon, Heliatek CEO, remarks, "We are delighted to be recognized by The World Economic Forum as a Technology Pioneer. We have developed groundbreaking technology and manufacturing process that will have a significant impact on the way energy is produced. By integrating our solar films to building facades, we turn these into localized power stations."

 

Heliatek  hold the world record of 12% cell efficiency for opaque (non-transparent) organic solar cells. In production, they currently achieve 7-8 %. The latest development allows transparency levels up to 50% with an efficiency of 6%. The intrinsic lifespan of our small molecules is >25 years (extrapolated). (www.heliatek.com)

"We're glad to see a German company make it to the selection," says Fulvia Montresor, Head of Technology Pioneers at the World Economic Forum. "Heliatek is part of a group of entrepreneurs who are more aware of the crucial challenges of the world around them, and who are determined to do their part to solve those challenges with their company."

 

The innovative roll-to-roll production process offers many advantages: high throughput, high yield and low costs. For example only 1g of organic material is necessary for one square meter (1m²= 10.74 ft²) of active HeliaFilm®. Together with the low power consumption of the production process this leads to a uniquely short energy payback time of less than 3 months. (www.Heliatek.com)
 

The Technology Pioneers were selected from among hundreds of applicants by a selection committee of 68 academics, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and corporate executives. Notable members of the committee include Arianna Huffington (founder, Huffington Post) and Henry Blodget (editor-in-chief, Business Insider). The committee based its decisions on criteria including innovation, potential impact, working prototype, viability and leadership.

Past recipients include Google (2001), Wikimedia (2007), Mozilla (2007), Kickstarter (2011) and Dropbox (2011). More information on past winners can be found here.