Solar energy has long promised a cleaner and more abundant power source, yet the world is still far from unlocking its full potential. Adoption rates for rooftop solar remain surprisingly low despite the sun’s unmatched capacity to meet global energy demands.
Power Roll is changing this outlook with a flexible and lightweight solar film that can be deployed on virtually any surface, opening access to markets worth billions that conventional solar technologies are unable to serve.
Why conventional solar falls short
Traditional solar modules are manufactured by stacking layers of materials to form individual cells, which are then assembled into larger units. This approach is inherently vulnerable to defects and sensitive to shading while also relying on costly supply chains that depend on rare earth materials. Silicon PV restricts where solar can be used; in fact, around one in four commercial buildings are unsuitable, predominantly due to the panels being too heavy, but also due to shaded or curved roofs.
A new architecture for solar power
Power Roll has taken a fundamentally different approach by creating a thin and flexible solar film based on its patented microgroove design. These microgrooves form a miniature corrugated structure that houses the solar cells. Conductors are deposited along the vertical walls, and a liquid perovskite ink is printed directly into the microgrooves using a roll-to-roll manufacturing process that is widely used in the packaging industry.
This results in the solar film being able to capture light from both the top and bottom surfaces, which improves overall energy generation. The use of perovskites removes reliance on rare earth materials, and the roll-to-roll manufacturing process produces an ultra-lightweight solar film at a fraction of the cost of traditional photovoltaics.
Why we invested in Power Roll
We first invested in Power Roll in 2020 after being impressed by both the expertise of the team and their drive. The technology was invented by Chief Scientist Dr John Topping, who spent time at Oxford University before accumulating more than 25 years of experience in specialist coatings. He is joined by CEO Neil Spann, who brings deep expertise in energy services and the financing of large renewable projects. Several members of the team have worked together previously and successfully exited a prior venture.
Power Roll’s solution drastically expands the range of surfaces that can generate solar energy. Commercial rooftops alone represent a £250 billion market, and the technology also lends itself to applications on vehicles, agricultural settings and off-grid environments. Therefore, this potential to significantly increase and accelerate the rollout of solar power globally, and in a carbon-efficient way, made Power Roll a compelling investment for us.
Looking for more?
Take a deeper dive into Power Roll’s technology in our Raw Green podcast episode featuring Neil Spann.