Poland based perovskite solar cell technology company Saule Technologies has announced a new product offering in the form of a perovskite electronic shelf label (PESL), targeting the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and retail industry segments.
PESL uses perovskite cells, instead of batteries, to power electronic labels in shops. These thin, lightweight and flexible cells can work in artificial light and also supply power to products exhibited on the lower shelves. The PESLs can display price, text and graphics as well as run advertisements, special discount announcements, loyalty campaigns, and the like.
Calling PESL as a 'breakthrough solution', Saule said these can power electronic devices that operate them including the display and wireless communication module. It enables changing messages displayed on the label remotely, up to 15 times a day.
Saule has used an e-ink in bi- or tri-color display, a wireless communication module and a perovskite PV cell as the power source. These PESLs are available in different shapes and colors with sizes ranging from 1.54 inches to 12.5 inches. Life of a single PSL is said to be close to 10 years.
The company counts PESL as a sustainable and affordable device, since, unlike batteries, it doesn't need quick replacement. It does not need the manual work of changing labels often.
"With PESLs, retail chains will be able to quickly reduce the prices of food products that are nearing their 'best before' dates. This will prevent huge amounts of food from being wasted, which in a world where so many people still go hungry appears unaffordable. The new trading tools provided by PESLs will let us save millions of tons of food each year," explained Saule Technologies' CTO Olga Malinkiewicz.
The company said it will carry out initial tests on the product in cooperation with Google Cloud Platform.
Working to commercialize perovskite solar technology application, Saule announced the world's 1st commercial installation of perovskite cells for PV blinds of Aliplast in August 2021, soon after opening its 1st manufacturing fab in Poland (see Saule's Commercial Perovskite Cell Installation).