SINGAPORE, Sept. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — MediSun Energy, a Singapore-based leader in integrated brine management, has signed two landmark Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with GreenTech Environmental, a China-based innovator in water treatment and resource recovery, during the Global Water Expo in Riyadh.

The partnerships bring together MediSun’s breakthrough technologies — Reverse Electrodialysis (RED) and Selective Electrodialysis Metathesis (S-EDM) — with GreenTech’s Newater House, a containerized desalination solution designed for rapid deployment and scalable impact. Capable of both Brackish Water Reverse Osmosis (BWRO) and Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO), Newater House will now be enhanced with MediSun’s technologies: RED for energy generation and brine management in SWRO and BWRO, and S-EDM to increase water recovery and brine minimization in BWRO. Together, the combined solution addresses some of the world’s most pressing water challenges with higher efficiency, lower energy use, and reduced brine discharge.

Under the first MoU, MediSun will distribute Newater House across the Middle East and Africa, while GreenTech introduces MediSun’s technologies in China. The second MoU takes the partnership further in Saudi Arabia through MediSun Arabia — a joint venture with MOAJ Holding, a respected Saudi investment group — where the focus extends beyond deployment to building local capacity. This includes manufacturing, technology transfer, and training programs designed to grow expertise within the Kingdom.

Joseph Chua, Co-Founder and President of MediSun, said : “Partnering with GreenTech marks a major step forward. Together, we are accelerating the rollout of the modular Newater House while expanding into key markets. Through MediSun Arabia and the support of MOAJ, we are also building long-term capabilities in Saudi Arabia to deliver lasting impact on the ground.”

Eric Zhang, Chairman of GreenTech Environmental, added : “This collaboration unites international innovation with Saudi strength. By working alongside MediSun and MediSun Arabia, we are advancing solutions that directly support Vision 2030 and extend sustainable water management far beyond the Kingdom.”

Dr. Ayman Alshelfan, Chairman of MediSun Arabia, added: ” This partnership represents a significant milestone in enhancing Saudi Arabia’s water security. By localizing cutting-edge desalination technologies, it establishes a foundation for a sustainable industry that generates employment opportunities, fosters local expertise, and solidifies the Kingdom’s position as a global hub for innovative water solutions.”

By localizing innovation, the collaboration directly supports Saudi Vision 2030, fostering industrial resilience, creating jobs, and positioning the Kingdom as a global hub for next-generation desalination. From Saudi Arabia, the partners aim to not only strengthen domestic water security but also export sustainable water solutions worldwide — delivering water security for Saudi, from Saudi.

About MediSun Energy

MediSun Energy is an integrated brine management company headquartered in Singapore. The company turns desalination brine and industrial waste streams into valuable resources through energy-efficient, circular solutions. Its proprietary technologies — including RED, EDM, and CO₂ mineralization — are designed to decarbonize energy-intensive sectors such as desalination and heavy industry, supporting a more sustainable and resource-resilient future.

About GreenTech Environmental

GreenTech Environmental is a China-based leader in advanced water treatment and resource recovery. Its modular, next-generation Newater House systems maximize efficiency, minimize cost , and transform brine into valuable resources. Leveraging proprietary GreenTech delivers scalable solutions for sustainable urban development, industrial efficiency, and national water security.

For more information, visit www.medisun.energy or email info@medisun.energy. Follow MediSun Energy on LinkedIn for the latest updates.

Celebrating a decade of impact, this year’s festival presents a dynamic lineup to help professionals adapt, innovate, and thrive in the fast-evolving AI era

SINGAPORE, Sept. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — NUS-ISS has kicked off the 10th edition of its flagship Learning Festival, set to run from 5 September to 14 November 2025. This landmark edition commemorates a decade of inspiring digital leaders and innovators while reinforcing the importance of equipping professionals to thrive in an AI-enabled future. Held as part of the NUS120 anniversary celebrations, the NUS-ISS Learning Festival 2025 continues its mission to uplift the digital capabilities of professionals across industries and foster meaningful connections within the community.

The theme “Always Learning and Always Leading in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” underscores the pressing need for organisations and individuals to stay ahead in the age of AI. With emerging technology, particularly generative AI, rapidly transforming industries, NUS-ISS Learning Festival 2025 provides a platform for practitioners, business leaders and organisations to explore the latest trends and uncover practical pathways to thrive.

A series of exciting activities will unfold over three months, engaging and connecting the NUS-ISS community throughout the festival season.

Key event highlights include:

• Main festival opening (5 Sep):

NUS-ISS Learning Festival 2025 will open with its flagship full-day event at the institute’s campus, setting the stage for an energetic exchange of ideas and perspectives among industry professionals. Through insightful talks, fireside chats, panel discussions, hands-on workshops and networking opportunities, participants will explore how AI is powering smarter systems, and reshaping industries such as healthcare, cybersecurity, digital banking, and beyond. Participants can also look forward to gaining fresh insights from leading industry experts and organisations such as AI Singapore, EY, Google, IBM, Monetary Authority of Singapore, NCS Group, Synapxe, and more. With conversations spanning both strategic opportunities and real-world applications of AI, professionals can gather valuable tips on how to harness the shift and capture the opportunities that AI brings.

To provide access to a wider international audience, selected sessions will also be livestreamed, enabling participants from around the world to gain insights from the experts in real time. As an extension of the main festival day, a series of online webinars on Digital Resilience, Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence will also be made available to international audiences from 15 September 2025 onwards. These sessions will further deepen the conversation and enable professionals across borders to continue learning and exchanging ideas beyond the event.

• Back to School Alumni Talk “Symbiotic Intelligence in Manufacturing: Collaborative Robotics and Agentic AI for Industry 5.0 and Beyond” (12 Sep):

Specially curated for NUS-ISS alumni, this talk by Dr Xavier Xie, Senior Lecturer & Consultant, Artificial Intelligence Practice, at NUS-ISS, explores the frontier of Industry 5.0, where human creativity and machine intelligence converge. It examines the role of agentic AI as an emerging force and how collaborative robotics can serve as human-centric enablers in manufacturing. Anchored in the Singapore context, the talk highlights how businesses can build resilient, adaptive, and ethically aligned AI ecosystems that balance innovation with responsibility.

• NUS-ISS TalentXperience 2025 (17 Oct):

Now in its third year, NUS-ISS TalentXperience has become a cornerstone event for students embarking on their digital careers. With over 100 interviews conducted at TalentXperience 2024, this year’s edition promises more opportunities for students to accelerate their careers and build long-lasting professional connections.

Students from NUS-ISS’ graduate programmes can look forward to connecting with leading companies across diverse industries – including DBS, National Dental Care Singapore, Infineon Technologies, Keysights Singapore and many others that are eager to welcome the next generation of digital talent. They will also get to network directly with hiring managers and professionals who can provide first-hand advice on navigating the competitive job market and receive real-time feedback on how to sharpen their profiles and differentiate themselves.

• NUS-ISS Annual Luncheon 2025 (14 Nov):

Among the highlights of the NUS-ISS Learning Festival 2025 is the by-invitation Annual Luncheon, convening alumni, key industry partners and staff.  The luncheon serves as a platform for the NUS-ISS community to look ahead and envision the next chapter of the institute’s mission: to equip the next generation of digital leaders with the knowledge, skills, and mindset to navigate an evolving AI landscape with confidence and impact.

“As AI transforms industries, reshapes work, and accelerates innovation, lifelong learning has never been more essential,” says Mr Khoong Chan Meng, Chief Executive Officer of NUS-ISS. “For the past 10 years, the NUS-ISS Learning Festival has empowered professionals and organisations alike to exchange ideas, embrace new technologies, and celebrate progress. The future belongs to those who can continuously evolve, lead, and innovate with courage. At NUS-ISS, we are enabling a digital economy that is Always Learning and Always Leading. We remain committed to equipping industry professionals in Singapore and across the region in staying relevant and competitive in the fast-changing technology landscape.”

To find out more about the NUS-ISS Learning Festival, please visit https://www.iss.nus.edu.sg/learning-festival/2025

About National University of Singapore (NUS)

The National University of Singapore (NUS) is Singapore’s flagship university, which offers a global approach to education, research and entrepreneurship, with a focus on Asian perspectives and expertise. We have 15 colleges, faculties and schools across three campuses in Singapore, with more than 40,000 students from 100 countries enriching our vibrant and diverse campus community. We have also established more than 20 NUS Overseas Colleges entrepreneurial hubs around the world.

Our multidisciplinary and real-world approach to education, research and entrepreneurship enables us to work closely with industry, governments and academia to address crucial and complex issues relevant to Asia and the world. Researchers in our faculties, research centres of excellence, corporate labs and more than 30 university-level research institutes focus on themes that include energy; environmental and urban sustainability; treatment and prevention of diseases; active ageing; advanced materials; risk management and resilience of financial systems; Asian studies; and Smart Nation capabilities such as artificial intelligence, data science, operations research and cybersecurity.

For more information on NUS, please visit www.nus.edu.sg

About NUS-ISS

Established in 1981, NUS-ISS nurtures digital talent for the industry through graduate education, executive education programmes, consultancy, applied research, and career services. NUS-ISS guides individuals and organisations to bridge future opportunities through a unique portfolio of multiple learning pathways such as blended learning and stackable programmes, leading the way in shaping the next curve of digital excellence. It offers a wide spectrum of programmes in critical industry disciplines, such as digital leadership, software development, data science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, product management, smart health and digital innovation.

To date, over 200,000 digital leaders and professionals from across 9,647 corporate client organisations, and 8,277 graduate programmes alumni have benefitted from NUS-ISS’ suite of services. Its programmes are delivered by NUS-ISS staff with an average of more than 20 years of industry experience and supported by a strong network of partners. NUS-ISS also works with industry partners and associations locally and globally to co-create a digital learning ecosystem that inspires and shapes solutions for the digital economy.

For more information on NUS-ISS, please visit www.iss.nus.edu.sg

SINGAPORE, Sept. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The third and final year of Europe Full of Character, sponsored by The French Dairy Board, CNIEL, our beloved French cheese campaign in Singapore, has arrived with a delicious twist: “Cheese Eat Up!”

This year, we’re going bold by showing how everyday food and local favorites can be reimagined and elevated with the richness, versatility, and heritage of French cow’s milk cheeses.

At the heart of French gastronomy, cheese is more than just food, it’s a symbol of tradition, craft, and cultural pride. With over 3,000 varieties across different regions, French cheeses reflect centuries of know-how passed down through generations. From soft, buttery Bries to aged, nutty Comté and vibrant orange-hued Mimolette, these cheeses tell the story of terroir, craftsmanship, and passion. This campaign focuses on cow’s milk cheeses, which form the backbone of French cheesemaking and are loved around the world for their diversity in texture and flavor.

“This campaign has been an exciting three-year journey of culinary connection between France and Singapore,” says Émilie Martin, Managing Director of CNIEL. “With this final edition, we are proud to showcase how French cheese can find a home in everyday local dishes, thanks to the creativity of chefs, students, and food lovers here.”

Over the past three years, we’ve brought together chefs, importers, distributors, students, and food lovers in a journey of culinary fusion, training the next generation of local chefs from institutions like ITE, At-Sunrice, and SHATEC, and educating key industry players on the incredible variety and possibilities of French cheese. This year marks the culmination of that journey, with a fresh and exciting spotlight on local food and hawker-inspired dishes. From chili crab toast topped with Mimolette to baked brie saté, this year’s events showcase how street-style eats can be redefined using classic French cheese.

World-renowned cheesemonger François Robin, Meilleur Ouvrier de France, returns to lead this year’s experience with a bold new message: “French cheeses have all the qualities needed to be the perfect boost for texture and flavour in Singaporean classic dishes or snacks: their creaminess is always a plus, they melt beautifully when heated, and they act as excellent aroma fixers, capturing the sharpness of Asian ingredients. They’re also well-balanced and minimally processed, the list of assets is long. And perhaps the most important of all: French cheeses are simply delicious!” says François Robin.

Throughout this campaign, we continue to spotlight the diversity of French cheese, from the luscious richness of Triple Crème, to the earthy elegance of Fourme d’Ambert, to the iconic soft bloom of Camembert and how these traditional products can embrace Southeast Asia’s street food culture with creativity and flair.

To bring this fusion to life, we’re also sharing an original recipe that reimagines one of Singapore’s most iconic dishes, Chili Crab, with a French twist. Featuring French Mimolette, this recipe shows just how effortlessly cow’s milk cheese can be woven into local favourites, adding depth, creaminess, and character to beloved flavours.

CHILLI CRAB TOASTS

Crispy air-fried mantou buns topped with a spicy crab salad and finished with nutty Mimolette cheese.

Why the pairing works:  Mimolette’s savoury-sweet notes echo the essence of chilli crab. Its deep orange hue and firm texture make a bold visual and flavour contrast to the crab and chilli tomato jam, with belachan adding umami depth.

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Makes: 10 toasts

For the base:
5 Mantou buns

For the chilli crab salad:
100g cooked white crab meat
1 tbsp mayonnaise
½  lime, juiced
½ tsp sriracha (adjust to taste)
½ tsp belachan shrimp paste
Fine sea salt, to taste

For the sweet tomato-chilli jam:
2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce
1 tbsp tomato sauce
½ lime, juiced
100g cooked crab claws

To serve:
100g Mimolette cheese, shaved
A Handful of coriander
2 spring onions, julienne

1. Slice the buns in half, arrange them cut side up then fry for 15 minutes until crisp. 2. In a large bowl, mix the crab meat with mayonnaise, lime juice, sriracha and shrimp paste. 3. In a separate bowl, whisk together sweet chilli sauce, ketchup and lime juice before adding the crab claws and tossing them gently to coat. 4. To assemble the toasts, arrange the buns on a serving platter. 5. Top each one with a spoonful of chilli crab salad, topped with a dressed claw and finished with a piece of shaved mimolette. 6. Garnish with spring onions and fresh coriander, and serve with extra lime wedges.

This year campaign includes:

• A Trade & Media Tasting Showcase featuring elevated local bites and local drinks reimagined with French cheeses, demonstrating creative applications for foodservice professionals and media.
• Culinary School Workshops led by Maryjoy Lym from Jag Restaurant, where students from top Singaporean institutions will explore the tradition behind french cheese, how to create modern cheese board and remix local food using French cheese.

Throughout this campaign, we continue to spotlight the diversity of French cheese, from the luscious richness of Triple Crème, to the earthy elegance of Fourme d’Ambert, to the iconic soft bloom of Camembert and how these traditional products can embrace Southeast Asia’s food culture with creativity and flair.

“Cheese Eat Up!” isn’t just a theme, it’s a challenge to Singaporean foodies to see their favorite dishes in a new light, with just a sprinkle, a slice, or a melt of French heritage.

Follow our fusion journey and discover how to bring French cheese into your daily dishes on Instagram and : @cheesycharacters_sg

ABOUT CNIEL

CNIEL (Centre National Interprofessionnel de l’Économie Laitière) is a pillar of the French dairy industry, promoting excellence, innovation, and sustainability. Through education, promotion, and international campaigns, CNIEL supports dairy professionals and brings the best of French dairy to the world.

CAMPAIGN FINANCED WITH AID FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

TOKYO, Sept. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A Japanese winter offers more than just crisp air and vast snowscapes—it captivates visitors with hot springs shrouded in mist, seasonal delicacies enhanced by the cold, and historic towns and festivals illuminated by snowy lanterns. From the drift ice of Hokkaido to the frost-covered trees of Tohoku and the snow-dusted traditional houses of Chubu, each region boasts its own unique winter charm. This season offers the exclusive luxury of admiring snowy landscapes while soaking in warm onsens and indulging in winter seafood and hot pot dishes.

December ~ February is an especially popular period, with hotels and transportation often booking up early. That’s where Club Tourism comes in—offering over 10,000 diverse package tours across Japan. Whether your departure point, travel dates, group size, or budget, we make it easy to find your ideal winter getaway.

Hokkaido Tours: A Winter Tale of Snow, Cuisine, and Nature

Hokkaido in winter is a world of silver snow and culinary treasures. Beyond classic destinations like Sapporo, Otaru, and Hakodate, experience the Okhotsk Sea drift ice cruises, the world-famous Sapporo Snow Festival, and indulge in seasonal seafood like hairy crab and scallops. Snow activities amidst vast nature and relaxing hot springs will warm both body and soul.

Learn more: https://x.gd/OJ9Jg

Tokyo-Departure Tohoku Tours: Snowy Landscapes and Hot Spring Paradise

Easily accessible from Tokyo via bullet train, Tohoku boasts winter wonders like the snow-covered Ginzan Onsen, frost monsters of Zao, and the winter scenery of Oirase Gorge. Soaking in hot springs while admiring snowy views is an unparalleled experience. Enjoy winter festivals and local cuisine, and step into a fairy-tale world.

Learn more: https://x.gd/PLJfC

Tokyo-Departure Chubu & Hokuriku Tours: Where History Meets Snowscapes

In regions like Shirakawa-go, Gokayama’s gassho-zukuri villages, and Kanazawa’s Kenrokuen Garden, winter highlights their unique beauty. Snow-covered traditional houses and gardens create a magical atmosphere. Savor winter seafood and hot springs while immersing yourself in Japan’s traditional culture and natural beauty.

Learn more: https://x.gd/kPqKD

Explore More Winter Tours in Japan:
▶ Winter Tour Special Page:https://x.gd/TqQxg https://x.gd/7oV8i

Limited-Time Special Offer!

Book now and enjoy exclusive discounts:

• Get ¥1,000 off for bookings over ¥6,000
• Get ¥2,000 off for bookings over ¥20,000

Perfect for These Travelers:

• Planning a trip to Japan between December 2025 and February 2026 (winter vacation/New Year)
• Want to enjoy snowscapes, hot springs, and cultural experiences in one trip
• Prefer relaxed travel without the crowds, especially suited for mature travelers
• Looking for hassle-free package tours without the stress of planning

About Club Tourism:

With over 40 years of experience as part of the Kintetsu Group, Club Tourism has welcomed global travelers since 2008. We offer more than 10,000 diverse tours, and our website now supports multiple languages (since 2024), making it easier for travelers from Asia and the West to plan their journeys.

From day trips to multi-day stays, traditional festivals to hidden gems, our tours are designed to immerse you in Japanese hospitality and culture. We prioritize accessibility and comfort for mature travelers, ensuring a worry-free experience.

Make your Japanese journey unforgettable, let Club Tourism help you create lasting memories.

Company Overview
Company Name: Club Tourism Co.,LTD
Headquarters: NBF Toyosu Canal Front, 5-6-52 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo
Business: Domestic and international package tours, themed travel, travel planning and operations
Official Website: https://www.club-t.com/
Facebook Official：https://www.facebook.com/YOKOSOJapanTour/
Instagram Official：https://www.instagram.com/yokosojapan_en/

Early demonstrations debut at Gartner Enterprise Risk, Audit, and Compliance Conference; full release coming November 2025

SYDNEY, Sept. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Protecht, a global leader in enterprise risk management software, today announces the upcoming release of Cognita, its embedded AI assistant purpose-built for governance, risk, and compliance (GRC).

Cognita will be available in the November 2025 release of Protecht ERM, with early demonstrations offered to customers, prospects, and conference attendees beginning this week at the Gartner Enterprise Risk, Audit, and Compliance Conference.

Unlike generic AI tools, Cognita is designed by risk experts, grounded in Protecht’s trusted content, and embedded directly into ERM workflows where decisions happen. With explainable outputs, built-in governance guardrails, and human-in-the-loop design, Cognita is safe enough to trust, smart enough to help, and scalable enough to grow with organisations.

“With Cognita, we’re making AI practical and trustworthy for risk leaders and frontline staff alike,” said Damien Stevens, Chief Marketing & Product Officer at Protecht. “It guides users step-by-step, strengthens accountability, and turns risk data into a strategic advantage – all without sacrificing governance or control.”

Cognita helps every employee act as a risk manager by:

• Guiding users in plain language with contextual prompts and step-by-step support
• Reducing manual admin, improving data quality, and accelerating reporting
• Reinforcing accountability with transparent, auditable, and regulator-trusted outputs
• Scaling seamlessly within Protecht ERM, with role-based permissions and oversight built in

“AI in GRC should never be a black box,” said Jason Phillips, CEO of Protecht. “Cognita ensures every suggestion is transparent, explainable, and accountable – empowering organisations to make faster, safer, and smarter decisions.”

Availability

Cognita will be included in the November 2025 Protecht ERM release. Customers, partners, and conference attendees can book early demonstrations starting in September and throughout October.

About Protecht

With offices in Sydney, Los Angeles, and London, Protecht Group provides innovative risk management solutions, including the Protecht ERM (enterprise risk management) platform. Trusted by organizations across government, financial services, education, and other industries, Protecht empowers businesses to manage risk holistically, transitioning from spreadsheets and manual processes to efficient, integrated systems.

Learn more and book a Cognita demo at protechtgroup.com/cognita

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Aiwyn, Inc., the first complete platform for modern accounting firms, today announced the acquisition of QuickFee’s (ASX: QFE) US payments business (QuickFee Pay Now and QuickFee Connect). This strategic partnership strengthens Aiwyn Payments’ positioning as a leading payments and collection platform for technology-driven accounting firms. Through its partnership with QuickFee, Aiwyn is further expanding its product suite by providing customers access to QuickFee’s ‘Pay Later’ finance offering.

QuickFee customers will continue to leverage their existing payment solutions, while gaining access to Aiwyn’s integrated platform, including practice management, client experience, and AI tax solutions. QuickFee will continue to operate its financing business independently.

“I’m excited to welcome QuickFee’s customers and team to Aiwyn,” said Justin Adams, CEO of Aiwyn. “We have long admired the firms QuickFee serves. We look forward to building lasting partnerships and supporting them, while providing them with the trusted products Aiwyn is known for.”

Strengthening Aiwyn’s Dedication to the Profession

Since its founding, Aiwyn has built strong partnerships with accounting firms to boost productivity and streamline workflows, as QuickFee has established deep connections by enhancing payment automation and cash flow management for the CPA market. Bringing Aiwyn’s growing client base together with QuickFee’s customer relationships strengthens Aiwyn’s position as a trusted partner to firms nationwide.

Dale Smorgon, Chairman of QuickFee said, “I am confident our customers are in excellent hands with Aiwyn. Our customers and team are becoming part of an organization that values their relationships and experience, and I am confident they will continue to thrive as an important part of Aiwyn’s future.”

About Aiwyn

Aiwyn, Inc. is the first complete platform for modern accounting firms across payments, practice management, client experience, and tax. Aiwyn delivers modern accounting solutions that transform how firms operate, connect with clients, and grow their business. Headquartered in Charlotte, NC, Aiwyn is backed by leading investors including KKR and Bessemer Venture Partners.

About QuickFee

QuickFee (ASX: QFE) is a fast-growing financial technology company. Our mission is to help professional service firms accelerate their accounts receivables and get paid faster. With multiple online payment options and powerful e-invoicing integrations for practice management systems, the QuickFee platform speeds up the bill-to-cash cycle for firms.

Through the QuickFee portal, clients can pay their professional service provider with a credit or debit card, EFT or ACH transfer, or a payment plan over 3-12 months. It allows the client to set their own pace for payments while the firm gets paid upfront and in full.

QuickFee operates in the United States and Australia and focuses on serving the accounting and legal professions. For more information, please visit quickfee.com or the QuickFee investor hub at investorhub.quickfee.com.

Media Contact

Mollie Burpo

mollie.burpo@aiwyn.ai

Logo – https://laotiantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/aiwyn_logo_logo.jpg 

Highlights

• Addition of graphene to perovskite solar cells (PSC) shown to improve efficiency two-fold and reduce production costs by up to 80%
• Cost-effective production allows scale up of volume and increases product competitiveness
• Partnership with Halocell and QUT helping deliver upward trend in commercial sales of ultra low-cost perovskite solar cells since launch to market last year
• More than 40 device categories identified to benefit from PSC application with significant market growth opportunities

SYDNEY, Sept. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — First Graphene Limited (ASX: FGR; “First Graphene” or “the Company”) (FRA:M11) (OTCQB:FGPHF) is pleased to provide an update on its partnership with Halocell Energy (Halocell) and Queensland University of Technology (QUT) to develop graphene enhanced perovskite solar cells (PSC).

Through the addition of First Graphene’s novel functionalised graphene, Halocell’s photovoltaic (PV) PSC has almost doubled in efficiency to 30.6%, while reducing production costs by up to 80%.

This is predominantly achieved through the Company’s graphene formulations being compatible with roll-to-roll (R2R) dispersion technology, which eliminates traditional high conductor and high-cost materials such as gold and silver from PSCs (see Figure 1).

R2R is the cheapest PSC manufacture method, providing a rapidly scalable production technique, introducing cost and volume efficiencies that gives Halocell’s cells market advantage against competitors.

Cells made with alternative carbon-based materials such as graphene (see Figure 2) have widely been found to outperform conventional silicon cells in low and artificial light conditions, including indoor environments, generating and supplying power for niche applications.

Perovskites generally lower PV material, processing and energy costs associated with manufacture significantly compared to traditional silicon-based PVs. Their energy payback period has been calculated to be as low as six weeks compared to silicon cells which take approximately two years.

Technology development and performance has created a level of PSC efficiency in the last decade that took 40 years to achieve in silicon-based cells.

Research partnership leading to commercial opportunities

FGR’s research and development partnership with Halocell and QUT started in 2023 and continues to be funded through a three-year AU$2.03 million grant from the Federal Government’s Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P).

To assist ongoing development of graphene-enhanced PSCs, First Graphene entered a two-year commercial agreement to supply Halocell with its PureGRAPH^® for use as a high performing coating in their cells last year (refer ASX announcement 26 September 2024).

Since late 2024 Halocell has been selling indoor, low-light PSCs to the Australian market, typically used in small electronic items.

PSCs are widely considered the best solution to replace hundreds of millions of batteries used in small everyday electronic devices such as TV remotes, calculators, toys, lights and torches, e-readers and tracking devices.

They can also be applied to high-end devices such as satellite solar modules, fixed wing drones, shark detectors, biomedical sensors and weather stations.

Halocell has identified 44 devices used across the IoT, electronics, space, aviation and full sun sectors that its PSC technology could be applied to.

Halocell is in the process of planning and seeking capital to expand its Wagga Wagga plant capacity through modular expansion of R2R production lines and boosting operating capability, with a view to eventually manufacturing up to 60 million PSC units annually.

First Graphene Managing Director and CEO Michael Bell said:

“We’re pleased with the progress Halocell has made applying our PureGRAPH^® to its perovskite solar cell development, not only through our R&D collaboration but now in a commercial setting.

Halocell’s ambient module product line has been commercially available since September last year, meaning our partnership is generating competitive Australian innovation with global reach.

Production of these cells fits with our decarbonisation mantra when applying graphene to materials, which is proven to improve product performance, extend life and dramatically lower production costs to create a highly competitive product available to market.”

Halocell Energy CEO Paul Moonie said:

“Our approach to perovskite commercialisation has always been strong material science while keeping cost and processability in mind.

This collaboration project with First Graphene has delivered that, and we now have a suite of low-cost materials we can select for a range of PV applications we will deliver.

In addition to improving the performance of our products, this locks in bespoke material from First Graphene as a secure and reliable supplier.

This material will be included in sales of our Ambient PV range already available for purchase as well as our drone and satellite PV modules.

I thank the Federal Government’s Collaborative Research Centre program for its support, this not only adds value to our products, but also strengthens sovereign manufacturing in Australia.”