Project description
A novel manufacturing process for integrated photovoltaics
Integrated photovoltaics (IPVs) have demonstrated their success and impact in their use as building-integrated photovoltaics. They are also considered promising in several other sectors. Their adaptation to other industries or devices could offer surprising benefits. Unfortunately, the very need for adaptable IPV solutions hinders their expansion as their current manufacturing processes cannot create IPV solutions customised to each sector. The EU-funded SEAMLESS-PV project aims to tackle this by developing revolutionary tools for photovoltaic manufacturing as well as new IPV products that offer improved efficiency, adaptability and integrability while at the same time showcasing their cost-effectiveness in comparison to competitors.
Objective
Beyond building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), slowly but steadily gaining adoption and settling as a more mature, recognized and reliable technology, the increasing interest of IPV solutions has recently started to expand towards other market segments. A curious gaze at our nearest environment allows identifying endless opportunities in which the implementation of IPV solutions could be addressed, bringing synergies, innovation and added value to important market segments such as infrastructures, transport, agriculture, urban environment, low-power electronic devices, etc. This idyllic approach brings, nevertheless, important challenges in the manufacturing, product development and effective integration of these multifunctional PV devices over final applications due to the fundamentally different specifications coming from each sector, which hinders the offer of a ‘one-fits-all’ technological approach. In addition, customization and flexibility in design is still constrained by existing manufacturing capacity and sophistication degree, which is, as of today, very much oriented towards more standardized manufacturing processes based on traditional PV equipment and processes.
In this context, SEAMLESS-PV is conceived to answer this challenge by addressing (1) the development of advanced flexible automated PV equipment manufacturing based on high efficiency c-Si technologies, (2) the upscale of new manufacturing processes presenting key features (e.g. lightness, enhanced integrability) and cost reductions that enable the seamless integration of PV over final applications and (3) the development of a set of IPV products demonstrating cost-competitiveness and compliance with market requirements and expectations. The project will demonstrate this new manufacturing capacity at pilot level and showcase the opportunity for European IPV manufacturers and end-users to unleash the potential of this sector.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringmanufacturing engineering
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculture
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energysolar energyphotovoltaic
- engineering and technologycivil engineeringarchitecture engineeringsustainable architecturesustainable building
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-IA - HORIZON Innovation ActionsCoordinator
20009 DONOSTIA-SAN SEBASTIAN (GIPUZKOA)
Spain
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Participants (14)
20550 Aretxabaleta
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1332 Rixensart
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
23013 Cosio Valtellino
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
50132 Firenze
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
05004 Avila
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
80935 Munchen
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
75015 PARIS 15
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12100 CASTELLON
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20809 AIA GIPUZKOA
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7973 Beloeil
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
75008 Paris
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7034 Mons
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
62010 MORROVALLE MC
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50121 Firenze
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Partners (3)
Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
6928 Manno
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Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
3645 Gwatt
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Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
2000 Neuchatel
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