Kardinia Energy deployed recyclable printed solar at Coldplay’s Stanford Concert, its largest roll-out to date
The ultra-thin, flexible OPV panels are quick to install with zero waste and no heavy infrastructure
These panels work alongside Coldplay’s portable battery systems that power stage operations during the band’s Music of the Spheres World Tour
Australia-based solar technology startup Kardinia Energy has announced one of the largest deployments of mobile, recyclable solar to date at Coldplay’s live concert in Stanford, US.
Coldplay, one of the most popular British rock bands, ‘challenged’ Kardinia to deliver a truly mobile, sustainable and capable solar solution that can travel with the band on its Music of the Spheres World Tour performance.
In response, the company installed its fully recyclable printed solar modules, produced using a roll-to-roll production process, which were deployed for the first time at the band’s European leg of its world tour in 2024. For the North American leg, the Stanford location was the first and the largest such deployment.
Printed using wine label-making machinery, Kardinia’s solar modules utilize ultra-thin organic photovoltaic (OPV) layers on PET plastic, weighing just 300 g/m². Designed for non-load-bearing surfaces, the flexible panels can be draped over stadium seating, rolled for easy transport, and installed by a 2-person team in under 2 hours.
Kardinia uses ‘easily-sourced, non-silicon-based materials’ that are sourced locally and not dependent on the supply chains of traditional PV modules. Even though Kardinia’s printed solar will require 4x more space than traditional silicon PV, it argues that this technology is expected to be 10 times cheaper.
Integrated with Coldplay’s portable battery systems powering stage operations, the plug-and-play solar setup will accompany the band across its US tour stops, including Las Vegas, El Paso, Miami, and Foxborough.
“Stanford is the first real-world demonstration of how Printed Solar can be rolled out on a massive scale, in hours, with zero waste and no heavy infrastructure. This is a blueprint for how music and science can disrupt the status quo and decarbonize live entertainment on a massive scale,” said Co-Founder and CEO of Kardinia Energy, Anthony Letmon.
Kardinia says it will track and share solar data with the tour, showcasing energy output and emissions avoided. The company also sees growing interest from stadiums and event organizers, as well as the potential for its off-grid use in disaster relief, emergency response, and regions needing clean, affordable power.
Meanwhile, Australia’s CSIRO reported a new efficiency record of up to 15.5% for fully roll-to-roll printed cells in 2024 (see Australia’s CSIRO-Led Team Reports New Efficiency Record).
.png?w=50&fm=png){kind=logo}