Periodic Reporting for period 2 - TilePlus (Ground-breaking roof tile solution for solar energy collection)
Berichtszeitraum: 2022-06-01 bis 2023-11-30
The world needs more energy to continue developing. UNs SDG no. 7 – access to clean affordable energy, is key to other development areas, and to develop sustainably, we must reinvent the way we produce, transport, and use electricity. Currently, according to IEA, approximately 50% of global electricity production is from fossil origin. To reach our CO2 reduction goals and reverse climate change, we must invest in renewable production technologies like solar on large scale as well as in smaller formats.
Urbanization is a major trend in the world and electricity use in cities is rapidly increasing, building electric production capacity represents a major challenge as space availability for powerplants is limited. Using available roof top space for the installation of solar technology in cities and densely populated areas has the potential of making a great positive impact bring benefits because one use already available roof space to produce electricity – no need for additional investments in the grid and the investment cost is shared with the prosumer.
E-tile+ addresses these needs, and the overall objective of the project is to mature, qualify and enable a swift market launch and scale-up of our revolutionary solar roof technology with the overarching aim to become the new reference for solar roof technology in Europe and beyond.
Our disruptive E-Tile+ solution is the first solar system made of real roof tiles and it is truly a BIPV (Building Integrated PV). It has the same size, shape and appearance as normal roof tiles. It offers the same functionality in terms of wind resilience and does not add weight to the roof construction beyond a normal tile. These features, in contrast to standard solar panels or tiles, entail high ease of instalment (40% lower installation time), reliability (i.e. 30% higher lifetime and lower maintenance costs) and safety (<120V operations vs. 400V), as well as increased exploitation of available roof area (30% more). With E-Tile+, 20-30 million roofs across the EU, could be targeted to harvest solar energy. Furthermore, our unique and patented tiles contacting approach (plug-and-play and parallel connection) provides more power output (20% higher conversion efficiency) than today’s solar panels. The latter are connected in-series and thus suffer from shadow effects, high additional costs and danger (high-voltage operations that require specially qualified electricians). Hence, E-Tile+ is a solar system specifically designed for the needs of buildings that need to rehabilitate the roof and new buildings. E-Tile+ solve the current issues of traditional PV roof panels and give homeowners a long lasting solar producing roof with low maintenance and keep the building safe from rain, wind and snow.
This FTI project will mature E-Tile+ in terms of performance, manufacturing cost, production yield and ensure full qualification of our product for its launch in our target markets, with a Business Plan adapted to guarantee a fast and sustained market entry. TilePlus project will address the solar roof market. We will argue that E-Tile+ can be installed on 13,700 roofs, while providing 142GWh in year 5 post-project.
Urbanization is a major trend in the world and electricity use in cities is rapidly increasing, building electric production capacity represents a major challenge as space availability for powerplants is limited. Using available roof top space for the installation of solar technology in cities and densely populated areas has the potential of making a great positive impact bring benefits because one use already available roof space to produce electricity – no need for additional investments in the grid and the investment cost is shared with the prosumer.
E-tile+ addresses these needs, and the overall objective of the project is to mature, qualify and enable a swift market launch and scale-up of our revolutionary solar roof technology with the overarching aim to become the new reference for solar roof technology in Europe and beyond.
Our disruptive E-Tile+ solution is the first solar system made of real roof tiles and it is truly a BIPV (Building Integrated PV). It has the same size, shape and appearance as normal roof tiles. It offers the same functionality in terms of wind resilience and does not add weight to the roof construction beyond a normal tile. These features, in contrast to standard solar panels or tiles, entail high ease of instalment (40% lower installation time), reliability (i.e. 30% higher lifetime and lower maintenance costs) and safety (<120V operations vs. 400V), as well as increased exploitation of available roof area (30% more). With E-Tile+, 20-30 million roofs across the EU, could be targeted to harvest solar energy. Furthermore, our unique and patented tiles contacting approach (plug-and-play and parallel connection) provides more power output (20% higher conversion efficiency) than today’s solar panels. The latter are connected in-series and thus suffer from shadow effects, high additional costs and danger (high-voltage operations that require specially qualified electricians). Hence, E-Tile+ is a solar system specifically designed for the needs of buildings that need to rehabilitate the roof and new buildings. E-Tile+ solve the current issues of traditional PV roof panels and give homeowners a long lasting solar producing roof with low maintenance and keep the building safe from rain, wind and snow.
This FTI project will mature E-Tile+ in terms of performance, manufacturing cost, production yield and ensure full qualification of our product for its launch in our target markets, with a Business Plan adapted to guarantee a fast and sustained market entry. TilePlus project will address the solar roof market. We will argue that E-Tile+ can be installed on 13,700 roofs, while providing 142GWh in year 5 post-project.
During the first reporting period of the project, we have worked on the optimisation and maturation of the E-Tile+ prototype (covering tasks 1.1. 1.2 1.3 1.4 and 1.6 of the project´s workplan).
During the technical maturation activities covered in the first reporting period, we have focused on the following activities:
•Increasing the solar laminate output power, improving the overall heat resistance of the assembled solar tile.
•Improving the heat resistance of the assembled solar tile.
•Improving concrete tile strength by evaluating different materials.
•Strengthening the solar laminate using advanced adhesives and encapsulation materials as well as different back sheets or backside glass.
•The finalisation of the E-Tile+ energy administration system was modified and we have concluded that we will not pursue development in areas such as smart home and energy trading but will provide interfaces to such systems.
•Improving the pilot assembly line in terms of functionality as well as liability and performance
In addition to the technical work performed during the first 12 months of the project, we have worked on WP3 Supply chain consolidation and scale-up, WP4 Baseline commercialisation activities and WP5 Innovation management. We have reviewed and improved our installation by developing a new process including structure for installation, installation protocol, installation video, and general documentation for a swift and successful installation. We are continuously improving these processes to reduce time during installation and as an effect lower price for the customer for the solution.
We have successfully achieved milestone 1 with the completion of the interim Business Innovation Plan as scheduled in our workplan, and we have successfully reached milestone 2, for which we have partially completed and submitted deliverable D1.1 and D1.2 as well as D1.4. All our designs and initial tests have been completed.
During the technical maturation activities covered in the first reporting period, we have focused on the following activities:
•Increasing the solar laminate output power, improving the overall heat resistance of the assembled solar tile.
•Improving the heat resistance of the assembled solar tile.
•Improving concrete tile strength by evaluating different materials.
•Strengthening the solar laminate using advanced adhesives and encapsulation materials as well as different back sheets or backside glass.
•The finalisation of the E-Tile+ energy administration system was modified and we have concluded that we will not pursue development in areas such as smart home and energy trading but will provide interfaces to such systems.
•Improving the pilot assembly line in terms of functionality as well as liability and performance
In addition to the technical work performed during the first 12 months of the project, we have worked on WP3 Supply chain consolidation and scale-up, WP4 Baseline commercialisation activities and WP5 Innovation management. We have reviewed and improved our installation by developing a new process including structure for installation, installation protocol, installation video, and general documentation for a swift and successful installation. We are continuously improving these processes to reduce time during installation and as an effect lower price for the customer for the solution.
We have successfully achieved milestone 1 with the completion of the interim Business Innovation Plan as scheduled in our workplan, and we have successfully reached milestone 2, for which we have partially completed and submitted deliverable D1.1 and D1.2 as well as D1.4. All our designs and initial tests have been completed.
The future of all building material is that we invent products that reduce energy usage of buildings and invent ways to make building material produce energy. The E-tile+ is such a product. It is truly a BIPV (Building integrated PV) product that produces electricity, reduce building material, and have a building function (securing your building for rain and snow).
Our technology has the potential to impact a number of socio-economics elements.
First, it will share the cost of building out electricity production capacity between the governments/companies and the owner of the buildings. Building electricity plants, independent if it is renewable, coal, nuclear or gas, has historically been a 100% state financed and regulated. 20 years ago, when the energy sector got deregulated cross Europe private companies took over part of that role, however country government set the frame for development. Using building integrated and E-tile+ technology will share cost of building energy capacity between public and private. This free up funding from government that they can use for other activities like education, health etc.
Secondly to build a new energy plant one need space. Often nature areas are used for this purpose reducing available nature areas, often near cities. This impacts nature, nature diversity and people’s nature recreation areas. Our technology use already available roof space.
Third, investment in the grid. E-tile+ allows production of electricity where it is used and the need of expanding the grid is less. Grid is also a major investment and maintenance cost for governments and energy companies, and it impacts nature areas and nature diversity. In addition, when transporting electricity in the grid one loose effect proximately 10%. This is waisted, with E-tile+ technology you will produce where you will use it and avoid these challenges.
To summarize our E-tile+ technology will positively impact the way produce, transport (grid) and use electricity. Our technology impacts nature, nature diversity especially in close proximity to cities and/or densely populated areas as well as government investment models.
Our technology has the potential to impact a number of socio-economics elements.
First, it will share the cost of building out electricity production capacity between the governments/companies and the owner of the buildings. Building electricity plants, independent if it is renewable, coal, nuclear or gas, has historically been a 100% state financed and regulated. 20 years ago, when the energy sector got deregulated cross Europe private companies took over part of that role, however country government set the frame for development. Using building integrated and E-tile+ technology will share cost of building energy capacity between public and private. This free up funding from government that they can use for other activities like education, health etc.
Secondly to build a new energy plant one need space. Often nature areas are used for this purpose reducing available nature areas, often near cities. This impacts nature, nature diversity and people’s nature recreation areas. Our technology use already available roof space.
Third, investment in the grid. E-tile+ allows production of electricity where it is used and the need of expanding the grid is less. Grid is also a major investment and maintenance cost for governments and energy companies, and it impacts nature areas and nature diversity. In addition, when transporting electricity in the grid one loose effect proximately 10%. This is waisted, with E-tile+ technology you will produce where you will use it and avoid these challenges.
To summarize our E-tile+ technology will positively impact the way produce, transport (grid) and use electricity. Our technology impacts nature, nature diversity especially in close proximity to cities and/or densely populated areas as well as government investment models.