Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 8:35:45 AM - by Nate Lew

A British company has put a unique solar energy product on the market that could lead to a variety of new applications in the coming years.

According to a recent announcement from 24 Innovations, its Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSC) have been shipped commercially for the first time, in this time to a Hong Kong company that makes consumer electronics bags.

This is said to be the first time that DSSC technology has been available for mass marketing to consumers. The products incorporating the panels will develop solar energy outdoors and indoors, helping to power devices like cameras, e-books and mobile phones.

"We've achieved this milestone through a sustained focus on transforming a highly promising technology from the lab to mass production, such that it can be applied to a variety of commercial opportunities," said G24i CEO John Hartnett, whose company is the commercial manufacturer of the equipment.

Solar cells using organic and other types of dyes are still largely in the research stage, but they offer great potential for ultra-thin applications that can be painted or printed onto various surfaces and products.