Dye Sensitized Solar Cells Impress Finland

The Winner of the 2010 Millennium Technology Prize is Professor Michael Grätzel from Switzerland for his third generation, low cost, dye-sensitized solar cells. President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen handed the EUR 800,000 Grand Prize and the prize trophy "Peak" to Professor Grätzel today at the Grand Award Ceremony at the Finnish National Opera, Helsinki.

"The constraint of solar energy has traditionally been its price. 'Grätzel cells' provide a more affordable way of harnessing solar energy. Grätzel's innovation is likely to have an important role in low-cost, large-scale solutions for renewable energy," says the President and CEO of Technology Academy Finland, Dr Ainomaija Haarla, explaining why Grätzel was selected as the winner.

The decision was made by the Board of Directors of Technology Academy Finland, based on the recommendation of the International Selection Committee.

The price/performance ratio of Grätzel's dye-sensitized solar cells is excellent. The technology often described as "artificial photosynthesis" is a promising alternative to standard silicon photovoltaics. It is made of low-cost materials and does not need an elaborate apparatus to manufacture. Though Grätzel cells are still in relatively early stages of development, they show great promise as an inexpensive alternative to costly silicon solar cells and as an attractive candidate as a new renewable energy source.

Grätzel cells, which promise electricity-generating windows and low-cost solar panels, have just made their debut in consumer products.

The two other 2010 Millennium Laureates were awarded each awarded prizes of EUR 150,000 and "Peak" trophies at the Award Ceremony. This year's Millennium Laureates answer some of the challenges of sustainable development and energy consumption.

The initial innovation of Professor Sir Richard Friend, organic Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), was a crucial milestone in plastic electronics. Electronic paper, cheap organic solar cells and illuminating wall paper are examples of the revolutionary future products his work has made possible. Friend is the Cavendish Professor of Physics at the University of Cambridge.

Stephen Furber, Professor of Computer Engineering at the University of Manchester, is the principal designer of the ARM 32-bit RISC microprocessor, an innovation that revolutionised mobile electronics. The ingeniously designed processor enabled the development of cheap, powerful handheld, battery-operated devices. In the past 25 years nearly 20 billion ARM based chips have been manufactured.

"Each and every one of these innovations excellently fulfils the most important of our requirements: they benefit mankind as broadly as possible, both today and in the future," says Dr Stig Gustavson, Chairman of the Board of Technology Academy Finland.