In a factory on the outskirts of Stockholm, a top-secret printer churns out thousands of euros worth of solar cells every six seconds. These miniature solar cells, produced by Exeger, are set to revolutionize everyday gadgets such as keyboards and headphones, transforming our interaction with technology and redefining our relationship with light.
The Birth of Powerfoyle: From Sunlight to Candlelight
Exeger co-founder Giovanni Fili was inspired by Sweden's long winter nights to look beyond the sun as a sole power source. His company's breakthrough technology can harness energy from nearly any light source, including direct sunlight, candlelight, and even moonlight, although the latter is less practical for significant power generation.
Evolution of Indoor Solar Panels
According to The Independent, indoor solar panels have existed for decades, with solar-powered calculators debuting in the 1970s. However, these early amorphous silicon cells were limited by low power, fragility, and rigidity, restricting their use in other products. The real innovation came in 1988 when scientists from UC Berkeley invented dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC), which were cost-effective, efficient, semi-flexible, and semi-transparent, paving the way for commercial development.
Exeger's Breakthrough: Powerfoyle Solar Cells
Fili and co-founder Henrik Lindström developed a new electrode material with 1,000 times better conductivity than its predecessors. This innovation led to Powerfoyle solar cells, which are now produced on a commercial scale.
Unlike traditional glass-covered panels, Powerfoyle cells are free from silver conductors and insensitive to partial shading, significantly boosting efficiency.
Versatility and Durability: A New Era of Integration
Powerfoyle's patented skin-like material can seamlessly integrate into various products, mimicking surfaces like leather, carbon fiber, wood, and brushed steel while remaining waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof.
"It works in any light condition, it's more durable than any other solar cell in the world, it's easy to manufacture, and it can imitate any surface. So we can integrate into products that are already selling in the billions of units per year," Fili says.
Production and Market Impact
Exeger's Stockholm facility can produce 2.5 million square meters of solar cells annually, making it Europe's largest factory of its kind.
Since its opening in 2021, the factory has been a hub of innovation, with Exeger predicting their technology will "touch the lives of a billion people by 2030." Powerfoyle cells are already used in products like headphones, wireless speakers, and bike helmets, with brands such as Adidas, Phillips, and 3M on board, and potential collaborations with Logitech and Apple on the horizon.
The Path to a Battery-Free Future
Exeger is one of several startups leading the commercial application of indoor solar panels, promising endless clean power and reducing reliance on disposable batteries. Companies like US-based Ambient Photonics are also exploring this space, aiming to eliminate traditional batteries, which are environmentally harmful and limit product design.
Ambient Photonics' DSSCs have been integrated into remote controls, reducing the need for disposable batteries significantly. Samsung estimates that TV remotes alone are responsible for 3.1 billion disposable batteries annually. Transitioning to photovoltaic energy could cut greenhouse gas emissions by 6,000 tons per year.
Expanding Horizons: Beyond Batteries
While Exeger's Powerfoyle cells currently cannot fully power energy-intensive devices like laptops and smartphones, they can significantly extend battery life.
Exeger is exploring solar-powered tablet covers that might eliminate the need for frequent charging for light users. "Our grandchildren will laugh that we had cables," Fili predicts.
The Future of Light-Powered Technology
Powerfoyle products have made users more aware of light in their environment, as light equates to power. Fili believes Powerfoyle is an era-defining technology, with the potential to impact everyone on the planet. With backing from major companies, Exeger is poised to lead the charge in the global adoption of this revolutionary technology.
