The main goal of Solar-Win is the industrial scale-up, validation under real-world operation conditions (TRL8) and commercialisation of next generation transparent and non-intrusive photovoltaic (PV) windows. The project will result in a unique transparent and electricity-generating window that merges the functionality of a PV module and a window in one, allowing a strong increase in the surface available in the building for generation of PV electricity. Solar-Win will revolutionize the Building Integrated PV (BIPV) and the architectural sectors, by providing a PV window solution featuring a unique set of characteristics, namely: (1) transparent and visually non-intrusive windows (with controlled visible transparency from 40% to 75%) able to generate up to 30 W/m2 of green electricity; (2) full compatibility with existing window manufacturing technologies; (3) lifespan equivalent to standard windows (20 years); and (4) cost effectiveness (cost increase of just 30% with respect to a standard window). To achieve these goals, solar-Win involves two Technology-based SMEs (PHYSEE and SUNPLUGGED from the Smart Window and PV sectors, respectively) coordinated by a flagship RTD organisation with a strong experience and background in technology transfer and optimisation of advanced PV technologies (IREC) and a leader constrution company (ACCIONA) which is the main costumer segment. The Project concept relies on the solar window patented technology developed by PHYSEE at TRL6, and on the highly flexible PV technology of SUNPLUGGED, which will be further optimised and customised for Solar-Win application. Solar-Win will overcome a major barrier that presently limits a further deployment of BIPV solutions, which relates to its intrusive character. Moreover, Solar-Win will allow achieving a disruptive advance extending drastically the possibilities for integration of PV solutions to virtually any kind of buildings, just by installing and/or replacing building windows.

E.T.COMPACT is aimed at reaching technology readiness level four for three in-space technologies on the domain of solar energy harvesting and green propulsion. The first technology, a thin film 2-terminal tandem CIGS/Perovskite module with efficiency larger than 15% and a power-per-weight ratio larger than 50W/kg, is called to reduce the cost of in-space solar panels. The second technology is a miniaturized (target volume 3U) green-propulsion mobility module device based on an electrodynamic tether. Designed to have tether reel-in/reel-out capability and equipped with a field emission cathode, the mobility module can use the harvested in-space solar energy to produce propulsion (both thrust and drag) without using propellant nor expellant. For the mobility module, and the satellite platform to host it, research on ultralight structures based on 3D printed compliant polymeric techniques is conducted. Besides mass reduction, the goal is to integrate compliance mechanisms for both tether deployment and thin-film solar panel unfolding. The third technology, which combines the experience and knowledge of the consortium on photovoltaic and tether technologies, is a novel bare-photovoltaic tether that uses the metallic tape tether for both electron collection and as the back contact of tandem CIGS/Perovskite modules. It integrates in a single device solar energy harvesting and propellant-less propulsion. Project impact is enhanced by activities on market analysis, unit mass production, and early commercialization, solidly supported by simulation work to assess the use of these technologies in the field of post mission disposal, active debris removal, in-orbit servicing and space tugs.

Humanity is approaching a cornerstone where Climate Change will transform society, industry and economy. Therefore, moving away from inefficient energy consumption and fossil fuels is more urgent than ever. Renewable energy sources are growing fast but their full integration will make necessary not just a boost of their efficiency but rather a quantum leap in energy management. Such paradigm change will come from technologies adaptable to changing climate conditions and, importantly, making use of widely available non-critical materials. ADAPTATION vision is to challenge current paradigms in solar energy harvesting and their integration by developing a new solar material platform that will integrate thermal management and energy collection in a single material, reducing electricity peak profile and allowing easy adaptation of the energy harvesting properties to different climate conditions. For this purpose, we will take inspiration from the two most efficient energy management processes on Earth: photosynthesis and terrestrial radiative cooling. ADAPTATION will mimic simultaneously the strategies followed by plants during photosynthesis to collect and manage energy at the nanoscale and the power-free radiative cooling of Earth by thermal regulation at the microscale. These extraordinary energy collection and managing strategies are robust to disorder and provide self-regulatory cooling capacities which make them ideal to be integrated into a wide spectrum of physical objects, powering them with a sustainable energy source. In ADAPTATION we will develop the building blocks for this technology and will demonstrate its implementation with two sustainable novel device architectures. Our innovative vision is based on the multidisciplinary background of its consortium with experts in geosciences, polaritonic photonics, colloidal and supramolecular chemistry, materials engineering, quantum technologies or photovoltaics including high-tech industrial implementation.

SolMates aims to provide a novel industrial, scalable technology for producing flexible, durable, made-to-measure, two-terminal CIGSe/perovskite multijunction thin-film PV modules. By optimized matching of narrow bandgap CIGS bottom cells on flexible substrates (steel, polyimide and flexible glass) with high bandgap perovskite top cells, a conversion efficiency higher than 30% (1cm²) will be reached. The focus on roll-to-roll compatible large-area high-rate deposition techniques for both layer systems in combination with the development of in-line quality control units for defect detection will lead to a minimized cell-to-module gap and full industrial scale-up after the project ends. SolMates will demonstrate a 100 cm² flexible, lightweight, durable, encapsulated monolithic interconnected tandem thin-film module with more than 25%. Due to a unique serial interconnection the made-to-measure production of highly-efficient PV modules in respect to shape, size and output voltage based on multijunction solar cells will become a reality. The developed technologies boost the power output of flexible thin-film PV, paving the way for the uptake of long awaited applications such as integrated PV. By exploiting already existing surfaces for solar energy generation, land-use conflicts will be minimized and the total costs for PV can be reduced. The involved, innovation driven SMEs will cooperate with the research partners to facilitate a pathway to mass production, low-cost, roll-to-roll fabrication of SoleMates’ PV technology and strenghten the EU PV value chain. The environmental footprint of the technology, which is inherently low for thin film devices with thin, flexible, lightweight substrates and encapsulation, will be carefully assessed with respect to SolMates' recycling strategy. Possible end-use applications will be reviewed and a long-term vision, focusing on the environmental, social and economic benefits of utilising PV in our daily lives will be developed.