Welsh Firm develops solar panels that work in rain
by Sally Williams, Western Mail / May 18 2007
Source: http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200wales/
A WELSH firm claims it is on the cusp of a “global energy revolution” using its innovative solar panels that even work in the rain. American entrepreneur Bob Hertzberg plans to revolutionise household gadgets – including mobile phones, iPods and laptops – with solar cells that work in all conditions, and are soon to go into mass production at his new Cardiff factory. The climate change campaigner, who ran for Mayor of Los Angeles in 2005, says his G24i company uses nano-sized titanium crystals that turn sunlight into electricity, with no more need for electrical chargers.
Asked about the thinking behind setting up such a business in wet Wales he said, “What better place to demonstrate solar? “When I say we are setting up a solar plant in Wales, people look at me with amazement. ‘Don’t you get it?’ I tell them. ‘It works in the rain’.”
He said, “The wonderful thing about the product we are developing, is that it is an energy source that requires only a low amount of light and no electricity. “Twenty million cell phones a month are currently being sold into India and China. “They are helping farmers there to get information about their crops, the weather and how to start new businesses.
“But two billion people in the world currently have no access to electricity. “Many of them are using polluting kerosene lanterns. “Our solar cell phones would use trickle-charging solar energy, in low light conditions, without the need for electricity.”
Mr Hertzberg said the solar cells would be a great way for an average person to reduce their carbon footprint. He added, “The solar cells could have literally hundreds of applications. In developing nations, children would be able to study at night by solar light and cells could be used to purify water. In the developed world, the cells could power laptops and kids would be able to use it for their i-Pods and games.” In the USA, it is estimated that 8% of electricity consumption is from gadgets including mobile phones and MP3s.
Mr Hertzberg added, “When you are going to change the world, it has to be personal. “What we’ve done is create brand new lightweight technology that can be carried on backpacks or clothes. “I had enough money from my last venture to put into this product, which is so revolutionary it would have a great impact. “We built a factory in Massachusetts, USA, to make the product on a two-year pilot scheme – I know it works well.”
Mr Hertzberg said he came to Wales when he found a factory owned by the Welsh Assembly Government that suited his business plan. He said, “It is 187,000 square feet over a 23-acre campus. “WAG moved quickly – from the day I met Rhodri Morgan to the move was little over a month.
“We now have around 35 people on the payroll plus a lot more who are working hard on the building. It could lead to a lot more jobs in future, that’s the game plan. The cell machine was built in Germany and more than 30 trucks brought it over in pieces to Cardiff.”
The former Californian politician is a confidante of former Terminator star and California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. He added, “I’ve shown the product to Arnold and we’ve talked about what I’m doing in Cardiff. “The next big move is making the solar cells, we are very near that now. It will be the first time in the world that anyone will be making these solar cells commercially.”
G24i, owned by Renewable Capital, will start production of the cells within two months. The company has already had talks with the mobile phone giants Nokia, Motorola and Sony Ericsson. In five years, the company aims to be making a profit of £130m on sales of more than £550m and plans to float on the stock market.