FOTO-CER, development of transparent photovoltaic devices integrated into ceramic construction elements

The FOTO-CER project aims to develop transparent photovoltaic devices for integration into ceramic materials (tiles), for application on facades, while maintaining their aesthetic qualities. https://fotocer.wordpress.com/

Lenz Instruments participates in a national consortium of eight companies and four research centers that aims to incorporate photovoltaic properties into building facades by integrating devices of high transparency and optical quality on their surface.

The European Commission has recently established new guidelines to improve energy efficiency, thus encouraging its member countries to take the lead in the implementation of new renewable energy sources. In this regard, the new FOTO-CER project is working to develop an innovative system of photovoltaic technologies that can be easily integrated into urban applications. As a result, residential and commercial buildings within cities will be able to generate more energy from renewable sources (solar energy) without installing dedicated photovoltaic parks.

One of the main objectives of the FOTO-CER project is to avoid the aesthetic impact of current photovoltaic elements installed on urban roofs, as these devices are opaque and usually black or dark gray in color. By developing transparent, photosensitive elements and integrating them into tiles of potentially any design and color, FOTO-CER will not only add energy-generating features to the tiles, but will also maintain all their technical and aesthetic qualities.

The project will be carried out by a consortium of eight companies from different industrial areas: KERABEN GRUPO; Aliter Grup Renovables; Cerámica la Escandella; Ecopol Tech; Ingeniería Navarra Mecánica; Obras y Servicios Tex; Kerafrit; and Lenz Instruments. Four research institutes and universities will also participate in the project: Lurederra Technology Center; Universitat Jaume I (UJI); Fundació Institut de Recerca en Energia de Catalunya (IREC); and Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC).

The FOTO-CER project has received funding from the CDTI, which is supported by the Ministry of Science and Innovation and with funding from the European Union -NextGenerationEU- through the guidelines included in the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.