A young team of scientists have opened a new factory in Bomen to produce a new type of solar cell that will unlock more power from the sun.
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GreatCell Energy was launched on Friday by a small team of three workers, however they have plans to expand the factory and start mass producing their cells for an international market.
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Materials technologist Marion Geltinger said this technology would be a gamechanger for the solar industry, allowing them to harness previously untapped wavelengths of energy.
"The material we're using is third generation cells. You can have silicon solar cells or perovskite solar cells, depending on what you want to use and the wavelengths you capture," she said.
"You can also stack them together and increase the efficiency, because they can capture more wavelengths."
Trainee technician Vincent Blattman will be helping out around the factory in the measurement and manufacturing of the cells.
Mr Blattman has studied engineering, metal fabrication, and welding at TAFE, and says this most recent gig would be a great way to gain experience in a real factory.
"I've always wanted to get more into the engineering industry, and I wanted a background in metal fabrication and welding before I moved onto electrical engineering," Mr Blattman said.
"I wanted experience in all sectors of engineering."
Chief executive Paul Moonie, who has a young family in Wagga, said he was thinking of setting up a headquarters overseas, but ultimately decided Bomen was the best place in the world for it.
"After doing research into setting up in Wagga we realised it was a good idea, especially with the Special Activation Precinct. We could get set up a lot quicker than anywhere else," Mr Moonie said.
Currently the factory does custom-made orders for Australian clients, but has their sights set on the international market in future.
The factory currently only has three workers, but Mr Moonie said they planned to rapidly upscale and start large-scale manufacturing within three to four years.
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Kenji Sato
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
