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peter.clarke
Eight19 may have come to the same conclusion but for now it expects Azuri to ...
iniewski
Serious solar technology deployment requires heavy government involvement ...
Startup spins out pay-as-you-go solar
Peter Clarke
9/3/2012 10:21 AM EDT
LONDON – Eight19 Ltd. (Cambridge, England) has decided to spin off its Indigo pay-as-you-go solar technology for off-grid markets as a company called Azuri Technologies Ltd.
Eight19, a startup formed in 2010, will continue to focus on the development of its printed plastic solar cell technology, while Azuri will focus on expanding the Indigo product.
Indigo – currently based on conventional solar cell technology – is being rolled-out in Africa and the Indian sub-continent. These products replace poorly performing kerosene lamps which contribute to ill-health and carbon footprint in emerging economies. Indigo is currently deployed in Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, South Sudan, Uganda and South Africa and has enjoyed rapid expansion.
The entire Indigo activity has transferred to Azuri and Simon Bransfield-Garth will remain CEO of both companies.
It is expected that Azuri will provide a route to market for Eight19's printed plastic solar products and Eight19 providing the supply of low cost, lightweight and flexible solar technology. Eight19 began organic solar trials in Africa earlier this year.
Eight19, founded in 2010, is included in version 13.0 of the Silicon 60 list of emerging startups published by EE Times. Eight19 entered the Silicon 60 at version 12.0 in April 2011.
Related links and articles:
www.eight19.com
www.azuri-technologies.com
News articles:
Eight19 readies printed plastic solar cell R&D center
Organic photovoltaic startup appoints CEO
Cambridge OPV startup raises $7 million
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goafrit
9/3/2012 5:25 PM EDT
Generally, it is not looking good for the solar marketh. With the debt crises, help is not coming from govts.
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Jack.L
9/4/2012 8:46 AM EDT
Worldwide, there is high pressure on solar subsidies, but in Africa, the price point of solar is below market rates.
That said, this article is not about large scale solar but small scale solar for lighting primarily which is not subsidy driven. We are talking $50 (or less) lanterns that are leased. The cost of the lantern is covered by what would have been spent in kerosene.
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GPBobby
9/4/2012 12:08 PM EDT
This sounds like an adaptation of the ubiquitous solar landscaping lights. I think they are even less than $50. I've had some running for 7 years. Not bright enough to illuminate a table, for instance, but with today's technology they would be better and do more.
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docdivakar
9/4/2012 12:17 PM EDT
@Peter Clarke: the printed plastic solar cells are quite low in efficiency (most in single digits!) and is not the best choice for indoor lighting. I have seen many solar lanterns being sold in India that use crystalline solar technology that seem to do the job for 2 to 3 hours. Given volume production, these have better chances of seeing success than low cost printed solar.
MP Divakar
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peter.clarke
9/6/2012 12:18 PM EDT
Eight19 may have come to the same conclusion but for now it expects Azuri to provide a route to maret for its printed plastic solar cells.
We shall see.
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iniewski
9/6/2012 10:30 AM EDT
Serious solar technology deployment requires heavy government involvement against very cheap natural gas that is even killing coal now, not to mention solar, wind, and other renewable sources of energy...therefore Africa is the last place on earth where you would deploy solar on a massive scale despite the fact they get lots of sun activity there...Kris
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