EKOBuild

Date: 06/07/2020

Project ID: Τ2ΕΔΚ-03539

“Organic Photovoltaics System Integrated in Buildings”

EKOBuild is an ambitious research and innovation program
with 2.5 year of duration that aims to improve the energy efficiency of the building

Main idea of the EKOBuild project is the increase of the energy efficiency in building facilities with the development and installation of Organic and Printed Photovoltaics (OPVs) of large area with optical transparency >40%. The project targets in the optimization of Semi-transparent (S-OPVs) in large-scale with Roll-to-Roll (R2R) printed techniques on plastic substrates with Transparent Electrodes (TE) and the use of in-line laser scribing process of the nanolayers and optical metrology for the control of the printed nanolayers thickness and optical properties.

The global energy demands have raised the interest for the "Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings"-NZEB. As Greece must follow the EU regulation for energy saving in the building sector, EKOBuild proposes solutions for the reduction of the cost needed for the upgrade of the buildings with low carbon footprint, with the fabrication of Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIOPVs). BIOPVs are flexible OPV panels (0,5kg/m2) that can be installed on glass windows or roofs with limited area or ability for installation of conventional PVs. It is estimated that the use of Photovoltaics in glass facades could achieve energy saving between 5,5% and 28%, offering a solution for the implementation of EU targets.

Currently Silicon Photovoltaics installations on buildings are limited due to:

a) high weight ~22kg/m2, b) rigid and fragile substrate,
c) low efficiency in high temperatures and limited sunlight and d) low optical
transparency that makes them un-suitable for glass facades.

EKOBuild innovation is based on the production optimization of highly-tailored OPVs as an appealing solution for energy harvesting in buildings. BIOPVs compensate all the disadvantages of the conventional PVs. More specifically OPVs can offer tunable optical transparency, and free design form, colour variety and easy integration in every architectural element (vertical or curved surfaces). For the above reasons BIOPVs are the most suitable for electricity generation in glass facades.

More specifically EKOBuild targets at

a) Study and fabrication transparent electrodes on flexible substrates (BOPP, PET) with
techniques for printing of Ag nanowire inks. These electrodes will be used as
cathode electrodes in OPV devcies

b) Optimization of OPV manufacturing to achieve high efficiency, optical transparency, power
output and lifetime for the BIOPVs fabrication

Finally, during the project, OPVs will be installed on roofs and glass surfaces (laminated in glass panes) on two buildings.

a) In an EKO gas station for the creation of a pilot "Green Gas Station" in
Thessaloniki, Greece

b) In the production facilities of DIAXON SA in Komotini, Greece.

The two pilot installations will consist of 50 m2 of BIOPVs and their power efficiency will be assessed.

Objectives:

Development and Optimization of R2R Printed Electrodes on Flexible Substrates
Optimization of Production of Efficient OPV devices (Efficiency: 7%, Power>40 W/m2, optical transparency>35%)
Manufacturing and Testing of OPV panels (lifetime: 10 years) and Building Integrated OPVs
Pilot Manufacturing of Building Facilities with BI(O)PVs and Assessment of Operation
Technoeconomic Study for Commercial Application of BI(O)PVs in Buildings and Gas Stations