Solar technology set to revolutionise the Army's power needs has been developed by The Australian National University.

Wearable light-weight solar panels have been invented by the ANU Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems as part of a $2.3 million Capability and Technology Demonstrator (CTD) contract with the Department of Defence.

Dr Igor Skryabin, Development Manager for the project, said that as part of the Australian Defence Force soldier modernisation program, infantry soldiers are being equipped with electronic devices to enhance their close combat tactical awareness and survivability.

“The development of these wearable solar cells will now allow soldiers to generate power in the field and reduce the need for batteries for their electronic devices. They will also establish a power supply that keeps electronic devices operational throughout the duration of missions,” he said.

According to the project’s Chief Investigator Professor Andrew Blakers, SLIVER solar cell technology developed by ANU, and now commercialised by Transform, form the basis of the wearable solar panels.

“SLIVER cells have enabled the construction of efficient, rugged, flexible and light weight portable modules that convert light directly into electricity under a wide range of environmental conditions,” he said.

“These cells have the same thickness of a sheet of paper or a human hair. This means they are flexible, lightweight and allow high power to weight ratios to be achieved. The cells are also bifacial, allowing modules to be constructed that allow light to be absorbed from both faces.”