SOLARIS

To reduce the need for further land consumption and promote the widespread production of renewable energy, it is essential to introduce technologies that allow for the harmonious integration of photovoltaics into the built environment (e.g., in buildings or greenhouses) or enable dual-use land applications (e.g., agrovoltaics). This integration is based on the concept of multifunctionality of surfaces dedicated to energy generation. To enable the multifunctionality of photovoltaic technologies, customization must be introduced into the PV modules, which may interfere with energy production and limit the profitability of the PV systems. The SOLARIS project aims to bring together research infrastructures and specialized expertise with local industrial entities to strengthen the competitiveness of the integrated photovoltaics supply chain within the province. Through the transfer of scientific knowledge to the component manufacturing process, the project seeks to promote the development and characterization of innovative and optimized functional layers, such as colored and/or diffusive glass or films, for the photovoltaic industry.
The specific objective and contribution of the project include:

• Increasing cross-sector renewable energy production capacity by applying technologies across different fields and quantifying their potential through detailed analysis.
• Improving energy efficiency in buildings by offering the market an optimized technology with the necessary analytical tools, while simultaneously enabling buildings to generate renewable energy.
• Accelerating electrification in alpine agriculture and forestry by demonstrating multifunctional solutions in the agricultural sector and facilitating renewable energy production in the fields to meet provincial electrification targets.
• Enhancing the manufacturing processes of integrated photovoltaic components by ensuring high product quality while reducing production time, costs, and energy use during design and fabrication.
• Promoting the sustainability of processes by deepening the life-cycle assessment (LCA) of developed technologies and reducing material use through improved production methods, supported by comparative analysis with existing market technologies.