Dyesol is the commercial partner in a project to develop dye solar cells (DSC) specifically for powering nanotechnology sensors which will improve data collection and surveying in remote areas. Under the Queensland State Smart Futures Fund, a collaboration led by Queensland University of Technology has been awarded more than $1 million for the project. Other members of the consortium are Central Queensland University, and Brescia and Roma Tor Vergata universities in Italy.

Announcing the grant, trade Mminister Stephen Robertson said, "The new sensors aim to have a variety of uses from monitoring the environment in remote areas to improving the quality of CO2 emission data, providing a more accurate picture of our carbon footprint.

"These sensors transmit data to monitoring stations using radio/UMTS technology and provide a low-cost method to monitor air, water, land and crop conditions, and assist in the control of pollution levels and gas/carbon emissions. It's anticipated that for farmers, the dye solar cell will enable them to improve their crop management.

"For example the new solar cell should enable a more accurate picture of moisture levels – their anticipated affordability will enable more sensors to be spread across a large crop – leading to improvements in water efficiency and cost savings."

"This project extends the long term collaboration between QUT and Dyesol and builds on the collaboration in Rome with University at Tor Vergata,” Dyesol chief scientist Hans Desilvestro said. “We look forward to our role in supporting this research and commercializing the outcome."