EnergyMatching · Project

Plug-and-Play Solar Building Skins That Turn Facades Into Power Plants

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Imagine if the walls and windows of your apartment building could generate electricity and heat — like a giant solar panel you actually want to look at. EnergyMatching built modular solar facade pieces that snap together like LEGO, plus smart windows that harvest sunlight while still letting you see outside. They also created a neighbourhood-level energy network (think of it as a local energy internet) so buildings can share surplus power with each other. The whole system comes with a digital tool that figures out the best mix of solar, heating, and storage for any building in any European climate.

By the numbers

consortium partners across the project

European countries represented in the consortium

industry partners involved in development

SMEs in the consortium

76%

industry partner ratio in the consortium

total project deliverables produced

European seasons covered in testing and optimization

The business problem

What needed solving

European buildings must meet increasingly strict near-zero energy requirements, but most renewable energy solutions for buildings are ugly, expensive to install, and hard to integrate with existing facades. Building owners and developers need attractive, modular solar solutions that work across different climates and building types — and a way to prove the financial case before committing.

The solution

What was built

The project delivered 7 core results: a business planning platform for energy harvesting investments (R1), an optimization tool for matching local energy production to building demand (R2), a click-and-go mounting substructure for various cladding systems (R3), a solar window package (R4), modular building-integrated photovoltaic facade solutions (R5), a renewable heating and ventilation package (R6), and a district-level energy management system (R7). These were demonstrated at real building sites with organized visits.

Audience

Who needs this

Residential property developers facing NZEB compliance deadlinesFacade and cladding manufacturers wanting to add energy-generating product linesEnergy utilities managing decentralised renewable supply from buildingsArchitecture firms designing energy-positive residential projectsMunicipal housing authorities retrofitting social housing stock

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Real Estate Development

mid-size

Target: Property developers building residential complexes

If you are a residential property developer trying to meet near-zero energy building requirements — this project developed modular, aesthetically appealing solar facade and window systems with a click-and-go mounting structure that installs on different cladding types. The 17-partner consortium tested these across 6 European countries covering all 4 seasons, meaning the solutions are validated for diverse climates.

Building Envelope & Facade Manufacturing

SME

Target: Facade system manufacturers and BIPV suppliers

If you are a facade manufacturer looking to add energy-generating products to your catalogue — this project created a versatile click-and-go substructure compatible with different cladding systems, plus modular BIPV envelope modules designed for visual appeal. With 13 industry partners (8 SMEs) already involved, there is a ready supply chain and integration pathway for licensing or co-production.

Energy Services & District Heating

enterprise

Target: Energy utilities and district energy operators

If you are an energy distributor struggling to manage decentralised renewable supply from buildings — this project built an energy harvesting management system and optimization tool that matches local renewable production with building load profiles across a local area energy network. The platform handles cost-performance balancing organized by geo-cluster, simplifying demand management for distributors.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to integrate these solutions into a building project?

The project data does not include specific per-unit pricing. However, the consortium developed a business enhancer platform (R1) specifically designed to model costs, cash flows, and ROI for different building configurations. A licensing or pilot discussion with the consortium would clarify pricing for your specific building type.

Can these solutions scale to large residential developments?

Yes — the system was designed for residential buildings at both individual building and district scale. The energyLAN concept connects multiple buildings in a local energy network, and the optimization tool (R2) handles load matching across clusters. The consortium of 17 partners across 6 countries provides manufacturing and integration capacity.

Who owns the IP and can I license it?

The project involved 17 partners from 6 countries, with 13 industry partners including 8 SMEs. IP is likely distributed across consortium members based on their contributions. The coordinator, Accademia Europea di Bolzano in Italy, would be the starting point for licensing discussions.

Has this been tested in real buildings?

The project included organized visits to demonstration cases, confirming physical installations were built and showcased. As an Innovation Action funded under Horizon 2020, the project was required to demonstrate solutions at near-market readiness. Testing covered all 4 European seasons.

How does this integrate with existing building energy systems?

The solutions are designed to connect at three levels: mechanical (click-and-go substructure for different claddings), building energy system (solar windows and RES heating/ventilation packages), and energy network level (district management system). The optimization tool simplifies integration by matching local energy production with building load profiles.

Does this comply with EU near-zero energy building regulations?

The project explicitly targets NZEB (Nearly Zero Energy Building) requirements and was funded under the EEB-07-2017 topic on energy-efficient buildings. The solutions were designed to help buildings become active energy network elements that consume, produce, store, and supply energy.

What ongoing support is available?

The project closed in July 2022. Based on available project data, the consortium included 13 industry partners, many of whom may continue offering commercial versions of these technologies. The project website energymatching.eu may provide current contact information for individual technology providers.

Consortium

Who built it

The EnergyMatching consortium is strongly industry-driven: 13 out of 17 partners (76%) come from industry, with 8 being SMEs. This signals the project was built around companies that intend to bring products to market, not just publish papers. The consortium spans 6 countries (Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden), covering major European construction and energy markets with diverse climate conditions. The coordinator, Accademia Europea di Bolzano in Italy, anchors the research side while the industrial majority — including facade manufacturers, solar technology firms, and energy system integrators — provides direct routes to commercialization. For a business buyer, this means multiple potential suppliers already familiar with the technology.

ACCADEMIA EUROPEA DI BOLZANOCoordinator · IT
CASA S.P.A.participant · IT
NIBE AKTIEBOLAGparticipant · SE
WIRTSCHAFT UND INFRASTRUKTUR GMBH & CO PLANUNGS KGparticipant · DE
HOGSKOLAN DALARNAparticipant · SE
FUNDACION TECNALIA RESEARCH & INNOVATIONparticipant · ES
FERROAMP ELEKTRONIK ABparticipant · SE
EUROFINESTRA SAS DI ECOSISTEMA SRLparticipant · IT
BOUYGUES CONSTRUCTION SAparticipant · FR
TULIPPS BVparticipant · NL
ONYX SOLAR ENERGY SLparticipant · ES
R2M SOLUTION SRLparticipant · IT
PELLINI SPAparticipant · IT

How to reach the team

Accademia Europea di Bolzano (EURAC Research), Bolzano, Italy — academic coordinator of an industry-heavy consortium

Order a report on this consortium See ACCADEMIA EUROPEA DI BOLZANO profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to connect with the EnergyMatching team or explore licensing their solar facade and building energy solutions? SciTransfer can arrange an introduction and help you evaluate the fit for your projects.

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