Amcor & Power Roll: Pioneering Solar Photovoltaic Film

Amcor, the global leader in sustainable packaging manufacturing, has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with UK technology innovators Power Roll Limited.

This collaboration seeks to transform solar energy by developing a lightweight solar photovoltaic film, offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional silicon solar panels.

Power Roll’s innovative film material provides a flexible and lightweight solution suitable for various applications, including fragile rooftops, facades, off-grid power generation, and the transport sector.

Through a roll-to-roll manufacturing process, this technology is produced without rare earth minerals, making it a more sustainable and ethical choice.

“The innovative solar film technology developed by Power Roll has the potential to revolutionise the solar energy industry, providing ultra-low-cost green electricity on a global scale," says Frank Lehmann, Vice President of Corporate Venturing and Open Innovation at Amcor.

"Through its partnership with Amcor, we are confident that Power Roll will continue to contribute significantly to the global transition towards net zero.”

Enhancing sustainable manufacturing in the UK

While the majority of roofs in the UK can support the weight of solar panels, there exist some prominent exceptions. Older roofs or roofs in poor condition will require reinforcements or repairs prior to installation.

There's also the fact that roofs made of weaker, more traditional materials like clay tiles may not be able to support the panels.

The roof's structure and pitch also has to be taken into account, with the ideal pitch for panels between 30-40°.

Last but not least, the direction the roof is facing in matters a lot, with north-facing roofs getting significantly less sun and therefore less power.

With all these requirements, investing in solar panels and subsequently supporting sustainable manufacturing is not a quick and flexible process.

“We are delighted by the support we have received from Amcor, which will allow us to accelerate our growth and expand our impact," says Neil Spann, Chief Executive of Power Roll.

"With one in three commercial rooftops unable to handle the weight of traditional solar panels, equivalent to 12 billion m2 globally, our mission is to lead a global rooftop solar revolution, starting here in County Durham, UK.

"The need for low-cost clean energy has never been greater and Power Roll offers a solution by leveraging these underutilised rooftops where conventional heavy and rigid silicon panels cannot be deployed as well as many other applications.”

Amcor: expanding the solar energy sector

Amcor, already active in the solar photovoltaic market, continues to leverage its advanced barrier technologies and roll-to-roll manufacturing capabilities.

This partnership will enable Amcor to enhance its presence in the rapidly expanding solar energy sector while exploring opportunities to produce and market components for photovoltaic film solutions.

Amcor and Power Roll will continue discussions to finalise terms and arrangements, including Power Roll’s ongoing funding round subject to the necessary internal approvals.

Beyond this initiative, Amcor is actively engaged in a range of start-up investments and partnerships.

These efforts include leveraging its research and development expertise and supporting collaborative ventures. Notable collaborations feature strategic investments in ePac Flexible Packaging, PragmatIC Semiconductors, PulPac’s fiber technology, and Licella’s recycled content.

Additionally, through its Amcor Lift-Off initiative, the company provides seed funding to early-stage start-ups, such as Nfinite Nanotechnology, Bloom Biorenewables, circolution, and Greyparrot, fostering the development of innovative and sustainable manufacturing technologies.

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