2023-06-23 02:58:00
They would be the “most efficient flat photovoltaic solar panels in the world”, according to their designers, with an efficiency of more than 29%, compared to 15 to 22% for conventional panels during direct sunlight.
The European project Hiperion, subsidized by the European Union for 10.6 million euros, has just ended following four years of development. In the bowels of the Innoparc technology park in Neuchâtel, the project managers coordinated by the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM) presented their pilot production line on Thursday, made up of four machines. The last stage of their project and an important step for Hiperion, finally ready for industrialization.
On the roofs of buildings or in agriculture
To achieve these yields exceeding the competition, these panels combine two technologies of current solar panels:
The classic photovoltaic that we find on our roofs, which collects as much direct light as diffused light (for example when the weather is cloudy) Concentrated photovoltaic, a space technology, which is more efficient but only works with a direct sunshine.
By using these two technologies, Hiperion’s hybrid panels produce more energy under direct sunlight. Especially since the lenses focusing this energy move to follow the direction of the star. And when the sky is cloudy, the classic solar panel takes over. With a slightly weakened performance of 10% due to the glass of the lenses.
The more efficient Hiperion panel is useful when the surface area is restricted and the power requirements high, explains Jacques Levrat. “We see two applications. Put the panels on buildings of more than three floors, because from three floors, the production of conventional panels on the roof is no longer enough to supply the whole building. Or at electric car charging stations, where a lot of power is also needed.”
The technology that tracks the sun has already been used by the start-up Insolight, collaborating with Hiperion, in agrivoltaism. Solar panels placed above the plants return the sun to the plants when they need it and to the panel the rest of the time.
Towards industrialization
The Hiperion project is complete, following four years of work, and ready for industrialization, as Jacques Levrat explains: “We classify the market proximity scale from 1 to 9. 1 is an idea, 2 is a laboratory prototype. We have arrived at 7: we have demonstrated the technology in a real environment and that will allow us to reach the next level, industrialization. We have also shown that we can produce and install reliable panels for 25 years”.
However, there are still points for improvement, but nothing insurmountable for the engineer: “the size of the panel is not yet that of the end market, it is a little less than one square meter, whereas conventional panels rather make two. And a few small bugs of youth remain to be solved”.
Eventually, to move to mass production, money will have to be invested in these technologies. The ball is in the court of politicians and industry, specifies Jacques Levrat. The CSEM is available.
Bringing photovoltaic know-how back to Europe
This project has received European funding to the tune of 10.6 million euros. Its mission: to relaunch the European photovoltaic industry, faced with a market dominated by Asia, by innovating and creating “disruptive products”. Jacques Levrat details: “Everything comes from Europe in our project, we have the know-how. But to compete with China on standard solar panels, many industries would have to be brought back to Europe: that of glass, silicon, solar cells… Dependence is almost total on Asia”.
And if the abandonment of the EU-Switzerland framework agreement in 2021 has undermined collaboration in European research, Hiperion, launched before, has not suffered it according to Jacques Levrat. But he emphasizes that “today our role in this project might no longer exist. Switzerland might no longer be the coordinator. It will have an impact on future projects. » /me
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