Batteries, omnipresent in our daily lives, are very practical but they pose a well-known ecological problem. Their short lifespan and the toxic materials they contain make them a significant source of pollution. This is where the company Dracula Technologies, based in Valencia, comes in, having developed an original solution: organic photovoltaic modules (OPV).
From light to energy
These devices, which can be printed on a simple printer, generate energy from ambient light, whether indoors or outdoors. OPV modules, i.e. organic photovoltaic modules, have been developed. “, explains Jérôme Vernet, sales and marketing director of Dracula Technologies, at the microphone of France 3. « These modules can replace batteries in various connected objects. »
Unlike silicon solar panels, OPVs are made of organic materials printed on flexible supports, which allows them to adapt to many uses. The ecological interest of this technology lies in the fact that it only uses recyclable materials. Brice Cruchon, CEO of Dracula Technologies, emphasizes: ” It takes less than one gram of material to make one square meter of device. And at the end of its life, our product is fully recyclable. »
Dracula Technologies’ growth is accompanied by industrial expansion. The company recently inaugurated the Green MicroPower Factory, Europe’s largest factory dedicated to the production of OPV modules. Capable of producing up to 150 million square centimetres of devices per year, this fully automated factory meets the growing demand linked to the energy transition.
This infrastructure will also enable the creation of 100 jobs by 2026, and the company plans to employ 250 people by 2030. The company is supported by a 5 million euro grant as part of the France 2030 project.
Dracula Technologies’ OPV modules are particularly suitable for connected objects and industrial environments where light is low, such as warehouses or factories. This technology has already been successfully tested on IoT sensors in reduced lighting conditions. It has demonstrated its ability to operate even when the brightness drops to 500 lux, compared to 10,000 lux for a day outdoors.
According to European studies, nearly 78 million batteries from IoT devices will be thrown away every day by 2025. A situation that the European Union is seeking to stem by encouraging companies to adopt more sustainable solutions. By eliminating the need to import batteries from outside Europe and by working exclusively with European suppliers, Dracula Technologies is also helping to strengthen the continent’s industrial autonomy. Not only are traditional batteries toxic to the environment, but their limited lifespan also makes them unsuitable for industrial IoT applications. “, adds Brice Cruchon.
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