OPV film spells riches for vTrium

WHAT was supposed to be a routine work trip to Germany last year unexpectedly led to one of the biggest deals for Vijay Sirse in all his 32 years in the energy business.

The 58-year-old chairman and chief executive of Singapore firm vTrium Energy recalled how, during a series of presentations by some German firms, the one by Dresden-based Heliatek on its unique organic solar film technology caught his eye.

This organic photovoltaics (OPV) film, he explained, is not only light and flexible, but also very effective when used in tropical climates, such as Singapore's. Unlike standard solar panels that tend to produce less energy when the temperature rises, the output for organic film increases as the mercury goes up.