Imagine if solar panels weren't heavy glass slabs, but light, flexible skins that could be baked right into a building's walls or a car's roof. This project makes that a reality by using a special plastic-like material to wrap solar cells. It's like moving from heavy hardcover books to lightweight e-readers, making solar power easier to put on almost any surface.
Europe is heavily dependent on solar imports, covering only 15% of its own needs. There is a critical lack of domestic, high-capacity manufacturing for specialized, lightweight PV modules.
An industrialization roadmap for Solarface® including flexible interconnection systems, customized prepreg equipment, and AI-driven production optimization tools.
If you are a building materials company dealing with the weight and rigidity of traditional glass panels — this project developed Solarface technology that allows for lightweight, integrated PV modules. This enables the creation of energy-generating facades and roofs without adding massive structural loads.
If you are an agricultural tech provider dealing with the need for semi-transparent, lightweight energy covers over crops — this project developed customized prepreg equipment and composite encapsulation. This allows for the deployment of AgriPV solutions that are more durable and easier to install over large fields.
If you are a home energy company dealing with the difficulty of installing heavy panels on urban balconies — this project developed a lightweight composite manufacturing process. This makes mass-market balcony PV products more cost-competitive and easier for consumers to mount.
The project aims to make lightweight PV modules more cost-competitive by optimizing manufacturing processes and using generative AI to support production efficiency.
Yes, the project focuses on increasing the operating factor of Izpitek and demonstrating the replication potential of Solarface technology through several industrial use cases.
The project builds upon Solarface®, which is described as a European IP-protected lightweight composite PV encapsulation technology.
Improvements include the development of flexible interconnection, customized prepreg equipment, and the use of generative AI for production optimization.
The project is scheduled to run from June 1, 2026, to May 31, 2030.
The consortium is heavily industry-driven, with 11 out of 13 partners being industrial entities (85% industry ratio), including 9 SMEs. This strong commercial lean, spanning 6 countries (BE, CH, DE, ES, IT, NL), indicates the project is focused on market adoption and scaling rather than basic research, as evidenced by the minimal presence of universities (1) and research centers (1).
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