Solar Facility
The Solar Facility here at Swinburne is a dynamic collaboration between university and industry and is driving improvements in the efficiency and affordability of solar technology. Learn more about how we are positively impacting the world around us.
Our A$12 million Solar Facility located here at Swinburne contains world-class infrastructure for research and development using nanophotonics, nanomaterials and nanoplasmonics.
The solar facility provides a platform for the commercialisation of NanoPlas, a revolutionary nanoplasmonic solar cell technology being developed at Swinburne. The team's strong mix of research and business expertise puts it in a unique position to research, develop and commercialise the innovative solar cell technology.
An ellipsometer in use at Swinburne's solar facility.
In 2013, the Solar Facility received a $4 million grant under the Science and Industry Endowment Fund for a project to push the efficiency of nanoplasmic solar cell technology. Four external partners provided in-kind support for the project: Stanford University, Suntech R&D Australia, Taifeng Group Co. Ltd and Anwell Precision Ltd. Researchers from Swinburne and the CSIRO are using the funding to take NanoPlas from the lab to a small-scale pilot project.
NanoPlas technology addresses the biggest challenge of thin film solar cells: the cost-effectiveness, making building-integrable solar cells a more viable technology for the building sector. Integrating solar cells with buildings is an attractive concept for the building industry because it potentially allows skyscrapers to self-power themselves with purely green solar energy.
The technology also has the potential to make solar energy more competitive in the household electricity supply market.
Want to access this facility?
It’s available for Swinburne students and staff as well as researchers from other universities to use. Just use our handy online booking system.
Fee schedule
Access to this facility is granted on a fee-for-service, collaboration-for-service or a combination of both. You cannot commence using the facility until a signed access agreement has been completed and specific SUTNFS project number has been provided.
Note: Pricing is indicative only; final costs will depend on the nature and duration of your project.
| Equipment Usage or Service Provided | Hourly rate of total usage per project in calendar year ($AUD excl. GST) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar Facility | 1–50 Hours | 51–100 Hours | 101–200 Hours | 201+ Hours |
| PE-CVD | $125.00 | $100.00 | $75.00 | $50.00 |
| J.M. PVD |
$125.00 | $100.00 | $75.00 | $50.00 |
| TGA/DSC | $62.50 | $50.00 | $37.50 | $25.00 |
| UV-VIS Spectrometer | $62.50 | $50.00 | $37.50 | $25.00 |
| FL Spectrometer | $62.50 | $50.00 | $37.50 | $25.00 |
| Ellipsometer | $62.50 | $50.00 | $37.50 | $25.00 |
| Solar UV Simulator | $62.50 | $50.00 | $37.50 | $25.00 |
| Solar Quantum Efficiency Meas | $62.50 | $50.00 | $52.50 | $25.00 |
| FTIR | $87.50 | $70.00 | $52.50 | $35.00 |
| AFM/Raman | $87.50 | $70.00 | $52.50 | $35.00 |
| N-Storm | $87.50 | $70.00 | $52.50 | $35.00 |
| Laser Cutter | $62.50 | $50.00 | $37.50 | $25.00 |
| Staff Technical Assistance General | $125.00 | $100.00 | $75.00 | $50.00 |
| Staff Technical Assistance Training | $125.00 | $100.00 | $75.00 | $50.00 |
| Equipment Usage or Service Provided | Hourly rate of total usage per project in calendar year ($AUD excl. GST) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar Facility | 1–50 Hours | 51–100 Hours | 101–200 Hours | 201+ Hours |
| PE-CVD | $100.00 | $80.00 | $60.00 | $40.00 |
| J.M. PVD |
$100.00 | $80.00 | $60.00 | $40.00 |
| TGA/DSC | $50.00 | $80.00 | $60.00 | $40.00 |
| UV-VIS Spectrometer | $50.00 | $80.00 | $60.00 | $40.00 |
| FL Spectrometer | $50.00 | $80.00 | $60.00 | $40.00 |
| Ellipsometer | $50.00 | $80.00 | $60.00 | $40.00 |
| Solar UV Simulator | $50.00 | $80.00 | $60.00 | $40.00 |
| Solar Quantum Efficiency Meas | $50.00 | $80.00 | $60.00 | $40.00 |
| FTIR | $70.00 | $80.00 | $60.00 | $40.00 |
| AFM/Raman | $70.00 | $80.00 | $60.00 | $40.00 |
| N-Storm | $70.00 | $80.00 | $60.00 | $40.00 |
| Laser Cutter | $50.00 | $80.00 | $60.00 | $40.00 |
| Staff Technical Assistance General | $100.00 | $80.00 | $60.00 | $40.00 |
| Staff Technical Assistance Training | $100.00 | $80.00 | $60.00 | $40.00 |
| Equipment Usage or Service Provided | Hourly rate of total usage per project in calendar year ($AUD excl. GST) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar Facility | 1–50 Hours | 51–100 Hours | 101–200 Hours | 201+ Hours |
| PE-CVD | $50.00 | $40.00 | $30.00 | $20.00 |
| J.M. PVD |
$50.00 | $40.00 | $30.00 | $20.00 |
| TGA/DSC | $25.00 | $20.00 | $15.00 | $10.00 |
| UV-VIS Spectrometer | $25.00 | $20.00 | $15.00 | $10.00 |
| FL Spectrometer | $25.00 | $20.00 | $15.00 | $10.00 |
| Ellipsometer | $25.00 | $20.00 | $15.00 | $10.00 |
| Solar UV Simulator | $25.00 | $20.00 | $15.00 | $10.00 |
| Solar Quantum Efficiency Meas | $25.00 | $20.00 | $15.00 | $10.00 |
| FTIR | $35.00 | $28.00 | $21.00 | $14.00 |
| AFM/Raman | $35.00 | $28.00 | $21.00 | $14.00 |
| N-Storm | $35.00 | $28.00 | $21.00 | $14.00 |
| Laser Cutter | $25.00 | $20.00 | $15.00 | $10.00 |
| Staff Technical Assistance General | $50.00 | $40.00 | $30.00 | $20.00 |
| Staff Technical Assistance Training | $50.00 | $40.00 | $30.00 | $20.00 |
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Contact the Solar facility team
Whether you’re a PhD student, media, or an organisation looking to partner with us or access our facility or partner with us, please contact Professor David Moss on +61 3 9214 8146 or via dmoss@swinburne.edu.au.