PROJECT: Advanced technologies for multifunctional photovoltaic modules and systems integrated into buildings and infrastructures.
ACHIEVEMENT: Development of organic and hybrid coatings for corrosion and biofouling protection for degradation models. The Strategic Hazitek MULTIPV project (ZE-2023/000), funded under the HAZITEK 2023 programme and led by LANIK, aims to develop advanced technologies for multifunctional photovoltaic modules and systems that can be integrated into buildings and infrastructures. Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) is currently a rapidly growing market, but it still faces significant challenges in terms of cost, aesthetics, maintenance, energy efficiency, and durability.
Large surface areas exposed to sunlight on both buildings and infrastructures are currently underutilised. These areas could be effectively exploited if specific solutions were available to address the existing technical challenges. Building- and Infrastructure-Integrated Photovoltaics are expected to gain increasing market share over conventional large-scale photovoltaic installations.
The project is coordinated by LANIK and brings together a multidisciplinary consortium. In addition to INNOMAT, the partners include Mondragón Assembly; BIPV solution manufacturers (K2Glass, Izpitek and Umetal); BIPV system integrators (Lanik, Teusa, Krean and Trameinsa Uxama); and potential public and private end users (Baskonia Alavés, ETS-RFV and the Provincial Council of Bizkaia). TECNALIA and KONIKER participate as technological partners.
INNOMAT's main objective within the project is to develop and adapt coating technologies through three main research lines that meet the required technical specifications:
- Research into polymeric coatings, a technology in which INNOMAT has extensive expertise and which will be adapted to meet the needs of the photovoltaic industry.
- Development of polymer-matrix coatings incorporating glass microspheres to modify the refractive index and optimise their optical properties.
- Optimisation of hybrid organic-inorganic coatings using sol-gel technology based on TECNALIA's patent application EP19383186.
In addition to developing new formulations, INNOMAT will work on coating deposition processes to obtain robust materials that fulfil multiple requirements, including suitable optical properties, effective moisture barrier performance, chemical and ultraviolet resistance, low surface energy to minimise dirt adhesion, and the mechanical properties required to withstand wear phenomena such as abrasion. Furthermore, the developed coating must be applicable as a thin and homogeneous layer while accommodating the complex geometries required for integrated photovoltaic modules. Coating application processes will focus on depositing the multifunctional coating in a single step, thereby optimising manufacturing costs.
Starting from the coating composition design, an environmentally friendly and cost-effective process will be developed. The formulation will therefore be designed for easy industrial scale-up while ensuring good stability and long-term durability.
To validate the proposed innovations, several demonstrator subsystems will be manufactured and independently monitored under controlled conditions in different application environments:
- Complex-geometry photovoltaic skylights installed at LANIK's facilities.
- Ventilated photovoltaic façades and other innovative façade systems at TECNALIA's Kubik experimental building.
- Photovoltaic canopies for urban and railway environments.
- Photovoltaic envelope systems for outdoor lifts.
- Prefabricated structural photovoltaic systems for energy self-sufficient road tunnels.
The project is funded by the Basque Government's Department of Economic Development, Sustainability and Environment through the HAZITEK 2023 Programme, with co-funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).