Consortium

TNO (coordinator)

The solar energy activities of TNO's ECN unit focus on the development and large-scale implementation of PV systems. TNO-Solliance has experience in developing thin-film PV production methods and has its own infrastructure for making or modifying PV modules. In addition, TNO's Solar Energy Application Center (SEAC) focuses primarily on the application and evaluation of commercial PV modules in the built environment. SEAC has experience with projects involving the integration of PV in public infrastructure (noise barriers, roads, waterways) and has various test facilities at its disposal. TNO Brightlands Materials Center (based in Limburg) will contribute materials expertise in the area of transparent encapsulation materials and polymer binders for the road surface. In addition, active use will also be made of TNO's skills and networks in the area of project coordination, business development, communication and interaction with authorities and stakeholders.

Zuyd University of Applied Sciences

Zuyd University of Applied Sciences is an educational and research institute with approximately 15,000 students and 1,500 employees and branches in Sittard, Heerlen and Maastricht. Zuyd has been involved in projects for demonstrating and testing integrated PV in the built environment since 2009. Zuyd was one of the participants in the 'Wijk van Morgen' project in Heerlen where the latest developments in PV technology are tested in a ‘living lab’/experimental pilot environment. The institute will make a test site at Chemelot (Limburg, the Netherlands) available to Rolling Solar. The infrastructure for monitoring equipment has already been installed at this location. Zuyd focuses on PV products in the upper price segment and monitors these systems under real-life conditions.

imec vzw

imec's PV department conducts research into new materials and concepts for PV systems in order to use them as a renewable energy source and autonomous power supply. The work at imec targets crystalline silicon solar cells (cSi), thin-film solar cells (TFPV) and organic solar cells (perovskites). The laboratory facilities are world-class and the organisation's well-known experts in the PV department will attract the international and national players who participate in the industrial affiliation programme. Imec also collaborates closely with its partner UHasselt in the imo-imomec institute. They work on joint projects in the field of PV, reliability and power electronics at imomec, imec's associated laboratory at UHasselt.

Centre de Recherches des Instituts Groupés (CRIG) at Haute Ecole Libre Mosane (HELMo

CRIG is a non-profit organisation whose goals are to support the implementation of applied research, lifelong education and community service projects in collaboration with the educational, social, economic and cultural community. The skills and expertise of the ‘Environment’, ‘Optimisation’ and ‘Measurement and data processing’ departments will be used to study the sustainability and recyclability aspects of the devices developed for the project and to optimise certain elements. The professors involved in Rolling Solar will contribute the expertise acquired in these areas in previous research projects (in collaboration with the Walloon Region and with industrial partners), as well as their knowledge of optimisation and environmental impact assessment methods (LCA).

Hasselt University (Belgium)

UHasselt has a long tradition in materials research, especially in the area of synthesizing new PV materials such as organic PV cells and perovskite PV cells, and the associated analysis techniques for studying stability and reliability. In order to achieve these goals, UHasselt (to be precise: imo-imomec) has entered into partnerships with key players in the EU region, such as the Solliance consortium and EnergyVille in Limburg (Belgium). The research into thin-film PV is largely related to BIPV applications. Currently, the focus lies on developing CIGS and perovskite-based cells and modules. Research is also carried out to determine reliability at cell and module level.

Forschungszentrum Jülich

The Institute for Energy and Climate Research (IEK-5 photovoltaics) has developed globally acknowledged expertise in the field of thin-film solar technologies and heterojunction solar cells. It has knowledge in all areas of the solar cell value chain and contributes expertise in the field of luminescence analysis to this project. IEK5 has worked in this area with CIGS manufacturers for many years. It investigates CIGS solar cell degradation and develops measurement methods for early detection of failure mechanisms in thin-film solar cells. These activities are complemented by simulation and modelling activities. Specifically, PVMOS is used in Rolling Solar for modelling shade effects.

RWTH Aachen University - Chair for Integrated Analogue Circuits and RF Systems and Institute for Highway Engineering

The Chair for Integrated Analogue Circuits (IAS) at RWTH Aachen University covers a wide range of topics in the field of microelectronics, integrated power electronics and integrated radio systems. In the field of power electronics, the emphasis lies on small-scale converter circuits, which reduce the number of external components to a minimum. The department has developed a new concept for PV applications, which achieves a significantly higher energy yield by improving robustness in relation to solar radiation fluctuation and the resulting mismatch with the solar cells. Integrated DC-DC converters with MPPT for roof tile-integrated PV systems are also produced based on this concept.

Soltech NV

Soltech has been active in PV since 1989 and focuses on tailor-made products for specific markets. It has three main product lines: product development for industrial applications, special glass/glass PV modules and BIPV roof products. In addition to these business lines, the company also engages in R&D activities. One objective is to expand the activities to include solar panels integrated into all kinds of structures. Because of the major potential in the area of noise barriers, the company hopes that this product will lead to the start of a production line for larger volumes of custom-made products. Solutions demonstrated during the project will be produced and commercialised by Soltech.

Group Ceyssens

Group Ceyssens has evolved from a simple one-man shop in 1965 into a successful family-owned company with over 150 motivated employees today. Our activities in specialty glass solutions have spread to cover all of Western Europe, now rapidly expanding globally. For Group Ceyssens the Rolling Solar project offers a very nice opportunity to expand the scope of our company expertise and market domain. Group Ceyssens participates in the realization of a metal frame based noise barrier system as demonstrated on the Thor Campus in Genk as part of workpackage 3:  Electrically functional outdoor demonstrators.

Heijmans Infra B.V.

Heijmans Infra's core activities are the construction, maintenance and refurbishment of roads, airports and industrial sites, and the design and realisation of public spaces in residential and shopping areas. Looking to 2023, Heijmans wants to play a stimulating and leading role in making the built environment in the Netherlands more sustainable. Heijmans plans to establish a knowledge lead over competitors with its innovative solar noise barrier concept. The knowledge, expertise, experience and resources that are available reflect Heijmans Infra's long-standing presence in the market for designing, constructing, maintaining and refurbishing noise barriers and road-integrated electrical installations. The concrete contributions to the project are: realising the (Dutch) pilot installation, sharing the 'living lab' and information regarding acceptance of the SONOB product. The application and project results are available for use in relation to current prospects in collaboration with the project partners.

Sanko Solar

Importer of solar panels based on thin-film PV. The company has experience with combining aluminium (structures) and PV. Sanko also has experience with developing BIPV and developing and applying aluminium systems.

Eloy s.a.

The Eloy Group has been an established name in the construction and water treatment sector for over 50 years and now employs almost 370 people. During its history, Eloy has successfully integrated new activities to gain greater control over the final quality of its deliverables. These businesses now contribute significantly to the group's strength and performance. Road infrastructure development, sanitation & building construction, water treatment solutions; ready-mixed concrete & real estate development - these 4 complementary clusters generate true added value for the Eloy Group.

SolaRoad BV

SolaRoad BV produces and markets road-integrated PV solutions. The company was founded by a consortium that started investigating how to integrate PV technology in roads in 2012 and achieved a world-first by integrating PV technology in a cycle path in Krommenie. The Provincial Authority of North Holland, TNO and Strukton are the consortium partners. The knowledge and experience of the founding parties has been consolidated in SolaRoad BV in order to achieve accelerated commercialisation of viable products following development. SolaRoad BV contributes state-of-the-art knowledge and experience in the field of PV integration in roads and has a sales network capable of marketing the results of this project.

Solarge BV

Solarge BV focuses on the production of custom-made solar laminates that can be integrated into building components or into specific infrastructure surfaces such as SolaRoad. In order to make an industrial production process possible, Solarge collaborates with industrial partners to develop high-volume production processes and special production equipment. Solarge industrializes production capabilities that have been/are being developed to a certain point by and with Solliance: continuous lamination, flexible packaging for solar laminates, electrical system designs, integration of electrical components in the laminate and new types of solar cell material. This project aims to develop a solar laminate configuration that favours a positive business case for SolaRoad. Solarge is a relatively new company that combines extensive experience and the networks of its ambitious team members with backgrounds in the solar energy sector, construction, mechanical engineering and industrial production.

Taylor Technologies Holding BV

Taylor is a spin-off of Eindhoven University of Technology that develops and supplies innovative microelectronics for the solar industry. Taylor's products open up (new) PV integration markets through higher reliability, higher energy yields and lower PV system costs. In addition, Taylor offers a consultancy service and participates in the development of applications as an electrical specialist. Taylor's ambition is to become the leading developer and supplier of microelectronics for PV integration markets. Within the scope of this project and in collaboration with the partners, Taylor aims to develop an integrated electronic solution that offers a positive business case for infrastructure-integrated PV components in roads, noise barriers and crash barriers.

Van de Kreeke Wegenbouw NV

Van de Kreeke Wegenbouw is a versatile building and road construction company. It employs its own specialist staff for infrastructure contracts such as laying asphalt and brick paving. In addition, the company employs its own concrete construction teams (floors and walls). The engineers enjoy the challenge of coming up with ideas for customers who require innovative solutions. The company’s staff skilfully uses its practical experience and knowledge of construction to successfully manage development processes. Many years of intensive collaboration with knowledge institutes such as UHasselt and UCLL also help achieve the desired results.

Ingenieurgesellschaft fur Strassenwesen Aachen

The Institute of Highway Engineering (ISAC) is a spin-off of RWTH Aachen University. It focuses on developing innovative materials and construction techniques, based on thorough evaluation and testing. ISAC contributes specialist expertise in the following areas:

1. Performance testing of traditional and innovative road materials (road surface textures, bonding at the interfaces between the layers, noise-reducing top layers and usability);
2. The installation of prefabricated rollable road surfaces;
3. The applicability of prefabricated layers;
4. Evaluation in relation to international standards.

In the LIDAK project for a low-noise innovative surface course made from plastic funded by the German Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt), ISAC conducted research into the material's behaviour and durability, the acoustic efficiency of the layers and construction issues related to a prefabricated rollable, noise-reducing top layer for surfacing roads.

Advanced Coatings & Construction Solutions scrl

Since 2011, AC&CS has collaborated with ArcelorMittal on developing new construction-integrated PV solutions for the non-residential pitched roof market with the aim of future industrialisation. In particular, AC&CS has developed a roll-to-roll front-end technology on steel for producing CIGS sub-modules, specifically for roof-integrated PV solutions. The choice of CIGS technology is based on implementation benefits such as ductility, light weight, better response to low light conditions or indirect lighting and lower temperature coefficients. AC&CS will contribute to the project in this area by offering insulated steel substrates that will be evaluated for project purposes and used to improve thin-film CIGS PV production processes.

Project Advisory Committee members