1996
Research begins
Professor Paul Dastoor’s team at the University of Newcastle starts investigating conducting polymers for photovoltaics.
Australia
Built on Printed Solar
research in Australia.
Kardinia Energy is an Australian technology company developing Printed Solar and energy solutions for long-term and temporary installations in markets around the world. Founded in 2021, we bring together research, manufacturing and deployment expertise.
01 The people
Commercial and research
expertise.
Co-founders Anthony Letmon and Professor Paul Dastoor bring commercial leadership and Printed Solar research expertise. The technical team works alongside the University of Newcastle on materials, device architecture and process.
Executive
Anthony LetmonCo-founder and Chief Executive Officer
Leads commercial strategy, partnerships and scale-up, and builds the advisory practice alongside the product.
LinkedIn
Professor Paul DastoorCo-founder and inventor of the core technology
Leads the organic photovoltaic research programme at the University of Newcastle’s Centre for Organic Electronics.
LinkedInAdvisory Board
Kardinia Energy’s executive team is supported by a high-profile advisory board with experience spanning technology commercialisation, corporate strategy, operational leadership and international partnerships. The board provides strategic guidance to support the company’s growth and long-term ambitions.
Commercial and operations
David PearceGeneral Manager, Sales and Distribution
Leads sales and distribution, working with customers to identify suitable sites and portfolio applications.
LinkedIn
Sam CliftonHead of Operations
Runs production, deployment and the logistics of getting Printed Solar onto a roof or a venue on schedule.
LinkedInTechnical
The technical teamMaterials, device and process
Working alongside the University of Newcastle on materials, device architecture and scale-up.
02 The story
A vision pursued for more than 25 years.
Printed Solar began with Professor Paul Dastoor’s belief that affordable, renewable and sustainable energy could change lives, and with his drive to help build a future free from reliance on fossil fuels.
1996
At the University of Newcastle in Australia, a dedicated team of scientists and engineers began working to turn that belief into reality. Lightweight materials, scalable printing and sustainability were central to the ambition: solar that could be made affordably, deployed widely and readily recovered for reuse.
2021
Anthony Letmon and Professor Paul Dastoor founded Kardinia to carry that vision into the world. The core intellectual property was assigned to Kardinia in 2022, and collaboration with the research team continues across materials, cell design and manufacturing scale-up.
Today
Kardinia is now carrying that vision forward through product development, manufacturing and real-world deployment, building a new industry and opening up vast new possibilities for where and how we generate clean energy.
03 The record
Key milestones.
Explore the development of the technology and the company, from the research programme to plans for commercial production.
1996 to today, and the line being built next.
01 / 07
2018
First commercial-scale installation
Printed Solar installed on an industrial roof at a CHEP site.
Covered by ABC News, September 2018
2020
First public installation
Printed Solar installed on the curved shade structures at The Canopy in Lane Cove to assess outdoor performance.
Reported by Renew Economy, July 2020
2021
Kardinia Energy founded
Established in Newcastle by Anthony Letmon and Professor Paul Dastoor to commercialise the research portfolio.
2022
Technology ownership and portable charging
The University of Newcastle assigns the core Printed Solar intellectual property to Kardinia. Printed Solar is deployed during the Charge Around Australia portable charging demonstration.
Reported by Reuters, 2022
2024–25
A stadium world tour
Printed Solar deployed on Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres World Tour across 18 countries, 29 venues and 91 shows, charging batteries for stage and backstage operations.
PV Magazine Australia, June 2025
2026
A demonstration-scale manufacturing facility
Development of PRINCEPS, a demonstration-scale manufacturing facility, progresses with support from NSW and Australian Government funding programmes.
In development
04 What we are building
Scaling Printed Solar manufacturing.
Kardinia is developing PRINCEPS, a demonstration-scale manufacturing facility, to establish repeatable production, improve throughput and measure product performance, manufacturing yield and cost. It is the next step from pilot production towards commercial manufacture.
Work with Kardinia.
Contact us about an energy project, Printed Solar project, partnership or research collaboration. We’ll connect you with the relevant team member.