ASPIS · Active Solar Panel Initiative

The Active Solar Initiative targets development of a fundamentally new, multi-disciplinary photovoltaic technology that will enable meeting and exceeding the year 2015 cost targets of the EU Photovoltaic Strategic Research Agenda, driving European consumer premises power generation to cost parity with grid electricity. The basis of Active Solar is a novel Parallactic Tracking technology concept that supports flat, fixed solar panels with internal concentration and dynamic sun-tracking. Active Solar panels will be a direct replacement of the ubiquitous photovoltaic solar modules. By means of a ten-fold reduction of amount of polycrystalline silicon, costs of the Active Solar panels will be reduced by up to 3 times compared to conventional PV modules. Unlike existing silicon-reducing technologies such as thin film panels, Active Solar panels will enable cost reduction per installed Watt without sacrificing installation area efficiency. The goals of the project include prototyping and verification of the technology, as well as development and verification of cost-efficient manufacturing techniques and dissemination of knowledge among European manufacturers. The project will also lay the groundwork for the next generation of Active Solar technology that will enable a drastic additional increase in residential solar generation efficiency through use of the highly efficient multi-junction cells in flat, fixed rooftop-mounted panels.