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Epishine: Revolutionising Indoor Solar Cells and Their Applications

In the thriving world of innovation, where science and technology converge with sustainability, a Swedish company called Epishine is making a name for itself. Epishine is pushing the limits of indoor photovoltaics and creating a new standard. The company was founded in 2016 to utilize organic materials for energy solutions.

All images, source: epishine.com

Introduction

Epishine is a renowned manufacturer and developer of printed organic solar cells. Their main objective is to provide the world with highly scalable, resource-efficient, and cost-effective solar modules. Their state-of-the-art technology is designed to efficiently harvest light from any indoor lighting conditions and convert it into usable power. This makes Epishine a game-changer in the realm of small electronics, particularly in the rapidly growing field of the Internet of Things (IoT). Source

Indoor Solar Cells

Epishine's indoor solar cells culminate over 30 years of research in organic electronics and photovoltaics. These cells are optimized for low-light conditions like offices, supermarkets, and homes. They are flexible and lightweight, with a thickness of just 0.2 mm. These cells can either replace batteries in low-power applications or extend their lifespan.

Evaluation Kit

The company offers an Evaluation Kit designed to demonstrate how their solar cells can power wireless low-power devices. The kit includes Epishine's indoor solar cells, a supercapacitor for energy storage, and intelligent charging management. It supports various output voltages and can even use an external primary battery as a backup. Source

Sample Applications: Where the Rubber Meets the Road

Assets Tracking In the realm of asset management, Epishine's solar cells can be a game-changer. Traditional asset tracking systems often rely on battery-powered sensors requiring frequent replacements. Epishine's technology can power these sensors indefinitely in well-lit environments, reducing both maintenance costs and environmental impact.

Electronic Shelf Labels Retail environments like supermarkets can benefit immensely from Epishine's technology. Electronic shelf labels (ESL) are increasingly replacing paper tags, but they often run on batteries. Epishine's solar cells can power these ESLs, making them both cost-effective and eco-friendly.

Lighting Control In smart buildings, lighting control systems are often connected to a central hub. These systems can be made more efficient and sustainable by integrating Epishine's solar cells. The cells can harvest energy from the indoor lighting to power the control units, reducing the need for external power sources.

People Counting People counting systems are essential for managing building occupancy and enhancing security. These systems often rely on battery-powered sensors. Epishine's solar cells can power these sensors, reducing the frequency of battery replacements and thereby lowering maintenance costs.

Temperature and Humidity Measurement In environments like data centres or greenhouses where temperature and humidity need to be constantly monitored, Epishine's solar cells can power the requisite sensors. This not only reduces the operational costs but also minimizes the environmental footprint of these establishments.

Environmental Impact

Epishine's solar cells are made of organic materials, making them more environmentally friendly. An example of this is the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analysis, which has shown that it is possible to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 85% for electronic price tags and up to 80% for remote controls.

Benefits

Sustainability: A significant reduction in the use of disposable batteries.
Maintenance: Lower maintenance costs and extended battery life.
Flexibility: The cells are thin, flexible, and can be integrated into a wide range of products.

Conclusion

Epishine is at the forefront of a technological revolution in indoor solar cells. Their products offer a sustainable alternative to traditional power sources, particularly for IoT devices. With significant financial backing and a robust product line, Epishine is well-positioned for future growth.