Project description
Ground-breaking smart solar windows helping to reduce our ecological footprint
The building-integrated photovoltaics sector has not yet been able to develop and launch a transparent photovoltaic (PV) window solution onto the market that is capable of meeting the demands of full transparency, active lifetime and energy production, among other things. The EU-funded Tech4Win project aims to develop a novel transparent PV window concept based on a tandem inspired structure that combines an inorganic ultraviolet selective multi-functional coating with an organic infrared selective PV device. It will be able to generate renewable energy on site at a reduced cost, guaranteeing a high-transparency degree while avoiding the use of critical raw materials.
Objective
Tech4win proposes a very innovative transparent photovoltaic (PV) window concept that is based on the adoption of a tandem inspired structure combining an inorganic UV selective multifunctional coating (including UV filtering and UV selective PV functionalities), with an organic IR selective PV device. This will allow fully exploiting the IR efficiency and transparency potential of organic based solutions together with the robustness and stability of inorganic thin film concepts, combining sustainable and industrial compatible technologies with demonstrated potential for cost reduction, and avoiding the use of critical raw materials to ensure sustainable mass deployment. This “tandem inspired structure” will be able to generate on-site renewable energy (PCE ≥ 10%, with a long term goal ≥ 12%) guaranteeing a high-transparency degree (AVT ≥ 60% with a long term goal ≥ 70%, and CRI ≥ 70) and all by a competitive manufacturing costs. This novelty lies precisely in the capacity to protect the most active PV layer (IR selective organic solar cell) through the filtering of UV radiation, extending the lifetime of the PV hybrid device to ≥ 10 years (with a long term goal ≥ 25 years). To fulfil these objectives, a very well balanced multi-sectorial consortium comprising reference Research Centers in the different PV technologies involved in the window concept, together with high-tech European Companies from different sectors including relevant stakeholders involved in the value chain (Organic materials, Industrial Equipment developers, PV module producers and BIPV system manufacturers). This scenario constitutes an excellent business opportunity to satisfy the growing BIPV market to commercialize a unique cost-effective solar window solution, fully feasible as an active product capable to reach a challenging combination of efficiency, transparency and lifetime, with the design of a “Tech4Win” roadmap to place on the market a robust solar window in approximately 10 years.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energy
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringmining and mineral processing
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcoating and films
- engineering and technologycivil engineeringarchitecture engineeringsustainable architecturesustainable building
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
08930 Sant Adria De Besos
Spain