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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Peter Hannam

Silver lining? Why an Australian startup is betting on a copper solar boom

Man wearing gloves holds a SunDrive solar cell
Sydney startup SunDrive has developed solar cell technology that replaces silver with copper, which can lift the efficiency of electricity generation. Photograph: SunDrive Solar

If an Australian startup gets its way, the silver lining in the global solar boom will become a copper one – before reserves of the material run out.

SunDrive Solar, backed by investors including Malcolm Turnbull and the billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes, is hoping its copper-based solar cell can reach commercial scale through a partnership with Trina Solar, one of the world’s biggest panel producers.

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