APOLO · Project

Flexible Printable Solar Cells for Buildings, Cars, and Textiles

energyTestedTRL 5

Imagine solar panels that are as flexible as a sheet of plastic and can be printed like a newspaper — in any colour you want. That's what APOLO worked on: a new type of solar cell made from a crystal material called perovskite that can be bent, shaped, and stuck onto building facades, car roofs, or even clothing. The big challenge was making these thin, flexible cells last long enough to be commercially useful, so the team focused on protective coatings and smart designs to keep them working for years, not just weeks.

By the numbers

22%

Target cell efficiency on flexible substrates

80%

Minimum retained performance after accelerated testing

90%

Retained efficiency after 1000h at 85°C/85%RH with encapsulation

1000h

Duration of accelerated stability test at extreme conditions

Consortium partners across 8 countries

50%

Industry partner ratio in consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Traditional solar panels are rigid, heavy, and limited to rooftops — they cannot cover building facades, curved car surfaces, or textile products. The solar industry needs lightweight, flexible, colourful cells that can be manufactured cheaply at scale, but existing perovskite solar cells degrade too quickly and high-efficiency versions require expensive vacuum processes.

The solution

What was built

The consortium developed flexible perovskite solar cell modules targeting 22% efficiency using fully printable, low-temperature manufacturing. Key outputs include an opto-electronic model for optimized cell design, validated encapsulation parameters for long-term stability (90% efficiency retention after 1000h at 85°C/85%RH), and an optimized module architecture with defined cell interconnection layouts and minimum bending radii for flexible applications.

Audience

Who needs this

Building facade and glazing manufacturers looking for energy-generating claddingAutomotive OEMs and tier-1 suppliers exploring vehicle-integrated photovoltaicsSmart textile companies developing energy-harvesting fabricsSolar module manufacturers wanting to add flexible product linesArchitects and developers designing net-zero energy buildings

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Construction & Architecture

mid-size

Target: Building facade and glazing manufacturers

If you are a facade manufacturer looking for new energy-generating building materials — this project developed flexible perovskite solar modules designed for building-integrated PV (BIPV) with 22% efficiency targets and optimized module interconnection. The cells are fully printable and colourful, meaning they can match architectural designs while generating electricity from surfaces that currently serve no energy function.

Automotive

enterprise

Target: Automotive component suppliers and EV manufacturers

If you are an automotive company exploring ways to extend vehicle range or power auxiliary systems — this project developed flexible solar modules with minimum bending radii specifications that can conform to curved car surfaces. The low-temperature, fully printable manufacturing process keeps production costs down, and encapsulation was tested to retain 90% efficiency after 1000 hours at 85°C and 85% relative humidity.

Textiles & Wearables

SME

Target: Smart textile and wearable electronics manufacturers

If you are a textile company exploring energy-harvesting fabrics for outdoor gear or wearable devices — this project developed lightweight, flexible perovskite solar cells on flexible substrates using scalable printing processes. The consortium included 5 SMEs and specifically targeted textile integration as a market, with cells designed to maintain at least 80% of initial performance after accelerated stress testing.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would manufacturing these solar cells cost compared to traditional silicon panels?

APOLO specifically targeted low-cost manufacturing using fully printing processes, low-temperature processes, and production outside of clean rooms — all of which dramatically reduce capital and operating costs versus conventional silicon PV. However, specific per-watt cost figures are not available in the project data.

Can this technology scale to industrial production volumes?

The project was designed around scalable manufacturing from the start: fully printable processes at low temperatures without clean rooms. The consortium included 6 industry partners (50% of the consortium) and 5 SMEs, suggesting strong intent to move beyond lab scale. Module-level design with optimized cell interconnection was a specific deliverable.

What is the intellectual property situation — can we license this?

As an EU-funded Research and Innovation Action with 12 partners across 8 countries, IP ownership is governed by the Horizon 2020 grant agreement. Licensing would need to be negotiated with the specific consortium partners who developed the relevant components. Contact the coordinator ACONDICIONAMIENTO TARRASENSE (Spain) as the starting point.

How long do these flexible solar cells actually last?

The encapsulation work targeted 90% of initial efficiency after 1000 hours at 85°C and 85% relative humidity — a standard accelerated aging test. The overall project target was at least 80% of initial performance after relevant accelerated tests from standards. Lifetime was identified as the main barrier for perovskite commercialization.

How efficient are these cells compared to what is on the market today?

APOLO targeted 22% efficiency for its flexible perovskite cells, which is competitive with conventional rigid silicon panels. The opto-electronic modelling deliverable aimed to guide development of cells exceeding 22% efficiency on both transparent and opaque substrates.

Is the lead content in these cells a regulatory concern?

The project acknowledges that perovskite cells contain lead but states the amount is not significant compared to silicon technology. However, they specifically worked on reducing toxic materials and addressed solvent toxicity for industrialization. Regulatory compliance would depend on your jurisdiction's electronics and construction material standards.

Can these cells be integrated into existing building designs or only new construction?

The project developed modules designed for integration into architectural designs of buildings, with colour choices and flexibility that allow adaptation to existing facades. The fully printable, flexible format means they can potentially be retrofitted onto surfaces, not just embedded in new construction.

Consortium

Who built it

The APOLO consortium of 12 partners across 8 European countries is notably industry-heavy: 6 industrial partners including 5 SMEs make up 50% of the team, joined by 4 research institutes and 2 universities. This balance signals a project designed for market transfer, not just academic publication. The coordinator is ACONDICIONAMIENTO TARRASENSE, a Spanish research association. The geographic spread (Switzerland, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, UK) covers major European construction and manufacturing markets, which matters for a technology targeting building integration and automotive applications.

ACONDICIONAMIENTO TARRASENSE ASSOCIACIONCoordinator · ES
CAMBRIDGE NANOMATERIALS TECHNOLOGY LTDparticipant · UK
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI ROMA TOR VERGATAparticipant · IT
COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVESparticipant · FR
ACCUREC-RECYCLING GMBHparticipant · DE
ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNEparticipant · CH
UNINOVA-INSTITUTO DE DESENVOLVIMENTO DE NOVAS TECNOLOGIAS-ASSOCIACAOparticipant · PT
Homerun Energy SRLparticipant · IT
ARKEMA FRANCE SAparticipant · FR
FLEXBRICK SLparticipant · ES
PRODUCTION TRADE AND SUPPORT OF MACHINABLE PRODUCTS OF SOFTWARE AND INFORMATICS - RELATIONAL TECHNOLOGY AEparticipant · EL

How to reach the team

ACONDICIONAMIENTO TARRASENSE ASSOCIACION (Spain) — research association that coordinated the 12-partner consortium

Order a report on this consortium See ACONDICIONAMIENTO TARRASENSE ASSOCIACION profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore licensing flexible perovskite solar cell technology for your building products or automotive components? SciTransfer can connect you with the right consortium partner.

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