We wrote about SunDrive way back in 2021 when it created the world’s most efficient commercial-sized solar cell using copper. But a lot’s happened since.
Two years ago SunDrive’s cell achieved 25.54% efficiency, but they recently announced they’d hit 26.41% efficiency for a full-size silicon cell using their copper-based technology and large-scale production processes.
SunDrive’s technology replaces the silver used in conventional solar cells with cheaper, more abundant copper—around 100 times cheaper per kilogram & around 1,000 times more abundant in fact—but the company said it’s now refined the copper plating chemistry and processing sequence.
Investors have taken notice. Early backers included tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), Dr Shi Zhengrong and Blackbird Ventures, but recently closed a $21M funding round led by the CEFC, Main Sequence, Malcolm Turnbull and Canva co-founder Cameron Adams.
SunDrive—created by two friends Vince Allen and David Hu in 2015—looks ready for an impressive future I’m glad to say. They’re planning to set up an advanced manufacturing facility that would create about 400-500 direct advance manufacturing jobs here.
And when you consider the thousands of indirect jobs needed for glass, aluminium and exports it’s an amazing story.
Of course it wouldn’t have happened without some very innovative thinking on the part of the founders, but copper can also take a bow. Not only is it more efficient than silver—more electricity for every square meter—but brings lower costs, more secure supply chains and less carbon emissions to produce. Oh and its endlessly recyclable.
According to Net Zero Australia, Australia will need 1900GW of solar to reach Net Zero. Given we only have 27GW currently installed SunDrive’s future looks brighter than ever.
Cheers, John Fennell
