SHE · Project

Hybrid Solar Panel That Produces Both Heat and Electricity From One Rooftop Unit

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Imagine your rooftop solar panel could do double duty — generating electricity AND hot water from the same surface. That's exactly what Abora Solar built. Most buildings have limited roof space, so you normally have to choose between solar panels for electricity or solar thermal for heating. SHE solves that trade-off with a single hybrid collector that does both, pays for itself in 5 years, and delivers 5 times more total energy than a standard photovoltaic panel.

By the numbers

40%

Share of EU energy consumption from buildings

75%

European building stock rated as energy-inefficient

5 years

Target payback period for the SHE panel

More energy output than a standard photovoltaic panel

€195 billion

Solar heat market value projected for 2025

450 million

Solar collectors projected to be installed

~2,000

Hybrid solar panels already installed by Abora Solar

50,000

Panel manufacturing target in Europe

32%

EU renewable energy target by 2030

The business problem

What needed solving

Buildings consume 40% of Europe's energy, and more than 75% of building stock is inefficient and needs refurbishment. Building owners must choose between solar thermal panels for heating or photovoltaic panels for electricity because rooftop space is limited. Existing hybrid panels that do both are too expensive and can't reach the temperatures needed, making the payback period unattractive for most buyers.

The solution

What was built

Abora Solar developed the SHE hybrid solar collector — a patented panel that simultaneously produces heat and electricity with a redesigned structure and manufacturing process. The project's key deliverable was the fully commissioned and operative SHE production line, ready for scaled manufacturing of up to 50,000 panels.

Audience

Who needs this

Property developers and building managers retrofitting for nZEB complianceHotel and hospitality chains with high combined heat and electricity demandIndustrial facilities needing both process heat and electricity from renewablesHVAC and solar installation companies looking for next-generation products to offerMunicipal housing authorities upgrading public building energy performance

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Commercial real estate and property management

mid-size

Target: Property management companies and building owners pursuing energy efficiency retrofits

If you are a property manager dealing with rising energy costs and limited rooftop space — this project developed a hybrid solar collector that generates both heat and electricity from a single panel. With 75% of European building stock rated as inefficient, your retrofitting projects can now cover heating and power needs without choosing between solar thermal and PV. The SHE panel delivers 5 times more energy than a standard photovoltaic panel with a 5-year payback.

Hospitality and tourism

mid-size

Target: Hotel chains and resort operators with high hot water and electricity demand

If you are a hotel operator struggling with high energy bills from constant hot water demand and air conditioning — this hybrid solar technology was designed for exactly that problem. Hotels need both heat (for water, laundry, kitchens) and electricity year-round. Instead of installing two separate solar systems on your roof, one SHE panel handles both, reaching higher temperatures than conventional hybrid panels while paying for itself within 5 years.

Industrial manufacturing

any

Target: Factories and industrial facilities with combined process heat and electricity needs

If you are an industrial facility manager facing pressure to cut carbon emissions while keeping energy costs under control — Abora Solar's SHE collector was built to serve the solar heat market in both buildings and industries. The patented design reduces manufacturing costs while increasing efficiency, targeting the €195 billion solar heat market. With nearly 450 million solar collectors projected to be installed, this technology lets you generate process heat and electricity from one system.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does the SHE panel cost and what's the payback period?

The project specifically targeted a 5-year payback period. Abora Solar's patented breakthrough was designed to simultaneously increase energy efficiency and reduce costs compared to existing hybrid solar panels, which were too expensive for most customers' willingness to pay.

Can this be manufactured at industrial scale?

Yes. The project's main deliverable confirms the SHE production line was fully commissioned and operative. Abora Solar's goal was to manufacture 50,000 panels in Europe for worldwide sales. The production line was specifically designed for the new patented manufacturing process.

What is the intellectual property situation?

Abora Solar holds a patent on the breakthrough innovation that changes the structure and manufacturing process of hybrid solar panels. This is a company-owned patent, so licensing or supply arrangements would need to be negotiated directly with Abora Solar.

How does SHE compare to standard solar panels?

According to the project data, the SHE collector supplies 5 times more total energy than a standard photovoltaic panel. It achieves this by capturing both heat and electricity simultaneously, whereas a PV panel only converts sunlight to electricity and wastes the thermal energy.

How proven is this technology in real installations?

Abora Solar had nearly 2,000 hybrid solar panels installed before the SHE project and was the sales leader in Spain. The SHE represents the next-generation version with improved efficiency and lower costs. The production line for SHE panels was confirmed as fully commissioned and operative.

What regulations or standards does this address?

The technology directly supports EU policy targets of 32% renewable energy by 2030 and nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB) standards. With buildings responsible for 40% of energy consumption in Europe, hybrid solar panels help meet both heating and electricity requirements from renewable sources.

Can this be retrofitted to existing buildings?

Yes, retrofitting is explicitly listed as a target application. With more than 75% of European building stock rated as energy-inefficient and needing refurbishment, the SHE panel was designed to serve this massive retrofit market alongside new construction.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a single-company project — Abora Solar, a Spanish SME, is both the sole partner and coordinator. That's typical for EIC SME Instrument Phase 2 funding, which targets high-growth companies scaling a specific product. The 100% industry composition means no university overhead or research detours: every euro went into product development and manufacturing scale-up. For a business buyer, this means you're dealing directly with the manufacturer, not navigating a complex academic consortium. Abora Solar was already the Spanish market leader with nearly 2,000 panels installed before this project.

How to reach the team

Abora Solar is a Spanish SME — contact their commercial team via abora-solar.com for product and partnership inquiries.

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Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

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