MC2.0
Many integrated photovoltaic (IPV) products have been developed over the last 25 years. Most of these are building-integrated products (so-called BIPV), but more recently also products for infrastructure (IIPV). However, there has not yet been a large-scale introduction and massive market takeover of these technologies and products.
The overarching goal of the MC2.0 project is to demonstrate a cost breakthrough for IPV through an advanced manufacturing approach known as “mass customization”.
Project Partners
POLYMER COMPETENCE CENTER LEOBEN GMBH
NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK (TNO) - COORDINATOR
ACCADEMIA EUROPEA DI BOLZANO
SCUOLA UNIVERSITARIA PROFESSIONALE DELLA SVIZZERA ITALIANA
INTERUNIVERSITAIR MICRO-ELECTRONICA CENTRUM
APPLIED MATERIALS ITALIA SRL
ROARTIS BVBA
ENFOIL
GLASS TO POWER
SUNPLUGGED - SOLARE ENERGIESYSTEME GMBH
IWIN - INNOVATIVE WINDOWS SAGL
DUFLEX BV
INDUSTRIE 4.O MATURITY CENTER GMBH
VITRONIC BILDVERARBEITUNGSSYSTEME GMBH
VDL ETG PROJECTS BV
MAAN GLUEING TECHNOLOGIES BV
BOUWHULP GROEP BV
ERNST SCHWEIZER AG
WIENERBERGER B.V.
Motivation and Goals
Over the past 25 years, numerous integrated photovoltaic (IPV) products have been introduced and demonstrated. Mainly BIPV products, but more recently also IIPV and VIPV products. Now there is a need to introduce these technologies and products on a large scale and penetrate the market.
We are on the cusp of a huge expansion of photovoltaics in Europe, which will have a major impact on our living environment. Therefore, it is now urgent and important that IPV products become widely available and affordable. This is important to (1) generate solar power where there is demand (in the built environment) and (2) to enable multifunctional use of land and space in the built environment.
Several members of the MC2.0 consortium have more than 20 years of experience in IPV development and have therefore been involved in many previous projects and studies.
As part of MC2.0, the PCCL acts as an expert for all types of plastic applications, from the encapsulation of solar cells to the bonding and packaging of semi-finished products.
Main Goals
- Demonstrate how automated manufacturing of IPV elements using the mass customization approach can bring a cost breakthrough in IPV façades and IPV roofs and roof coverings.
- Demonstrate how the mass customization approach to IPV will change the industry from “IPV building design follows component availability” to “component availability follows IPV building design”.
- Demonstrate how the mass customization approach to IPV will support the goals of the EU Renovation Wave
- Demonstrate how a wide variety of reliable IPV products can be brought to market without an unmanageable amount of certification requirements (“certification in the age of mass customization”)
- Show how this can be achieved while optimizing sustainability aspects (low environmental impact, resource efficiency and circular potential).
Objectives and Approach
The MC2.0 project will show how the automated production of integrated PV elements (IPV) using the mass customization approach can lead to a cost breakthrough for IPV façades, IPV windows and IPV roofs.
The mass customization approach makes it possible to produce semi-finished products for all possible IPV end products on one and the same programmable production line (the front-end process). The back-end process then consists of relatively
simple integration steps (e.g. lamination onto the substrate of choice - which can be glass, metal, sandwich panel or other). This can be done by manufacturers of building elements (façade elements, roof elements, windows) themselves.
„The MC2.0 consortium brings together experts and companies involved in PV laminate materials, PV laminate manufacturing, IPV product manufacturing and the market and application of IPV products. The PCCL will contribute to the selection of sustainable plastics for IPV applications. “
Downloads & Weiterführende Links
Funding Body
This project is co-funded by the European Union (Grant Agreement ID 101096139). However, the views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
