Project description
Solar cell technology makes windows a power source
The EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive requires all new buildings to be nearly zero-energy by the end of 2020. Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) is crucial for the decarbonisation of the building stock in Europe. The technology integrates solar elements into buildings to generate electricity. The EU-funded Solar-Win project will develop and commercialise a new transparent solar cell that will give windows in homes and other buildings the ability to generate electricity while still allowing people to see outside. The technology will be compatible with window manufacturing technologies and its lifespan will be the same as standard windows. The new smart window will cost 30 % more and will deploy solar energy in a non-intrusive way.
Objective
The main goal of Solar-Win is the industrial scale-up, validation under real-world operation conditions (TRL8) and commercialisation of next generation transparent and non-intrusive photovoltaic (PV) windows. The project will result in a unique transparent and electricity-generating window that merges the functionality of a PV module and a window in one, allowing a strong increase in the surface available in the building for generation of PV electricity. Solar-Win will revolutionize the Building Integrated PV (BIPV) and the architectural sectors, by providing a PV window solution featuring a unique set of characteristics, namely: (1) transparent and visually non-intrusive windows (with controlled visible transparency from 40% to 75%) able to generate up to 30 W/m2 of green electricity; (2) full compatibility with existing window manufacturing technologies; (3) lifespan equivalent to standard windows (20 years); and (4) cost effectiveness (cost increase of just 30% with respect to a standard window). To achieve these goals, solar-Win involves two Technology-based SMEs (PHYSEE and SUNPLUGGED from the Smart Window and PV sectors, respectively) coordinated by a flagship RTD organisation with a strong experience and background in technology transfer and optimisation of advanced PV technologies (IREC) and a leader constrution company (ACCIONA) which is the main costumer segment. The Project concept relies on the solar window patented technology developed by PHYSEE at TRL6, and on the highly flexible PV technology of SUNPLUGGED, which will be further optimised and customised for Solar-Win application. Solar-Win will overcome a major barrier that presently limits a further deployment of BIPV solutions, which relates to its intrusive character. Moreover, Solar-Win will allow achieving a disruptive advance extending drastically the possibilities for integration of PV solutions to virtually any kind of buildings, just by installing and/or replacing building windows.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
IA - Innovation actionCoordinator
08930 Sant Adria De Besos
Spain