SOPHOKLES
The SOPHOKLES project is developing customizable PV slats for shading systems that deliver high solar power yields even with suboptimal irradiation thanks to a hybrid interconnection concept. The slats are produced using a newly developed transparent polymer protective layer in additive manufacturing on a metallic carrier layer and optimized using a planning tool that takes building geometries and solar radiation into account.
Project Partners
- Sunplugged GmbH
- Hella Sonnen- und Wetterschutztechnik GmbH
- Polymer Competence Center Leoben GmbH
Motivation and Goals
The combination of solar power and shading in one building component offers considerable advantages. The continuously growing proportion of glass in modern buildings also offers great potential for the integration of PV modules in solar shading systems. This “green” multifunctionality of solar shading systems has the potential to significantly increase the energy efficiency of buildings by combining electricity generation with the important function of solar shading.
However, reality shows that with conventional materials and product concepts, the realization of PV solar shading systems is often associated with high costs, aesthetic restrictions and low energy efficiency. Most standard photovoltaic components on the market are optimized for standard applications, but not for specialized applications such as the PV assembly of solar shading systems. These standard products are often not adapted to the special requirements of solar shading systems, resulting in expensive and unattractive solutions.The aim of the project is to use customized mass production to serve markets where special requirements such as low weight, adaptable sizes, freedom of form and seamless integration into existing buildings and systems are of central importance.
The aim is to enable cost-efficient production that also meets the special requirements of PV solar shading systems.
One of the main challenges in the realization of PV solar shading systems is the large number of individual steps and materials required, which can lead to high manufacturing costs. Although the technologies currently in use make it possible to integrate PV into solar shading systems, the manufacturing costs are difficult to reduce due to the high effort involved and the large number of materials required. As a result, the end products are more expensive and less attractive to customers. In this project, solutions are being developed to optimize the production steps and reduce these individual steps and eliminate unnecessary materials.
Main Goals
- Development of PV-equipped sun shading systems: Integration of photovoltaics in solar shading slats to combine a dual function (energy generation and solar shading) in one component.
- Individual adaptation: Creation of customized, adaptable PV slats that can be adapted to different building structures and conditions (e.g. orientation, shading).
- Optimized production and selected use of materials: Optimization of production technology (e.g. additive manufacturing) and use of sophisticated materials to obtain a high-quality product
- Energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness: Ensuring high energy generation through PV slats, even with sub-optimal solar radiation, and a payback period of less than 10 years
- Increasing building energy efficiency: utilizing unused glazed building surfaces for solar energy generation and reducing CO₂ emissions through efficient PV slats
- Meeting market requirements: Develop PV louvers that offer low weight, customizable sizes, freedom of shape and aesthetic integration to ensure wide market acceptance.
Objectives and Approach
In order to achieve its goals and establish the use of PV in solar shading, SOPHOKLES is pursuing the following approach:
- Survey and analysis of the specific requirements for PV solar shading systems, both in terms of technological and aesthetic aspects.
- Development of an innovative, hybrid interconnection concept for PV slats that ensures constant voltage levels and high yields even with suboptimal irradiation.
- Use of additive manufacturing processes (3D printing, laser welding) to produce the PV fins in order to ensure flexibility and adaptability in terms of shape and size.
- Optimization of the design of the PV fins based on the planning data obtained in order to achieve maximum solar power yields.
- Production of prototypes of the PV slats and performance of tests under real conditions (e.g. different solar radiation, weather conditions).
- Optimization of manufacturing technologies to reduce manufacturing costs and increase the marketability of the products.
- Setting up a flexible manufacturing system that can respond to customer-specific requirements and enable the series production of customized PV slats.
- Ensuring high-quality, efficient production that is scalable to a large number of individual customer requirements.
„ The SOPHOKLES project contributes to the flexible design of PV integration and combines two benefits: shading and power generation. By selecting suitable polymers, the PCCL is making a significant contribution to the production of such PV-equipped blades.“
Funding Body
The project is funded by Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BMIMI) as part of the call “Stadt der Zukunft”. The program is managed by the FFG (project number FO999893504).
