Do a development project with us, a research project, or become part of the team!
To achieve sustainable solar, we need collaboration. Collaboration between industrial partners, governments, SMEs, multinationals, and more.
Biosphere Solar is not working on Circular Solar alone.
Learn about our ongoing projects with industrial and research partners
Interested in doing a subsidised project with us?
Biosphere Solar is a company, with a community at its heart. Key to our culture and beliefs, is open-source, which will accelerate the energy transition and enable humanity to tackle the massive challenges it faces as a result of climate change.
Do you want to contribute to a circular solar future? You can find us on discord, and our designs are there to inspire you on Wikifactory.
Do you have an idea for a joint research and development project?
Biosphere Solar today is at the forefront of circular solar. In the FAIR PV project, the highly promising and cutting-edge technology of liquid-encapsulation is being researched as an alternative to conventional EVA-lamination procedure. Preliminary research has shown promising results of increased efficiencies and lifetime performance. Funded by the Dutch government through the Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend (RVO), Biosphere Solar is working on the project with partners Circularise, TU Delft, AMS Institute, Amsterdam Economic Board, Gemeente Amsterdam, Provincie Zuid-Holland and AGC. The project will yield a Living Lab experiment which will be open to the public at the Marineterrein of Amsterdam. This will consist of circular solar panels which showcase product passports, high efficiency, and ease of repairs and recycling.
The project started in Summer 2024 and is set to last for three years. Updates will be found on our LinkedIn regularly, and reports will be uploaded on this page throughout the project.
Budget: €950,638.00
Duration: 36 months
Project Partners: Biosphere Solar, TU Delft, Circularise, AMS Institute, Amsterdam Economic Board, Gemeente Amsterdam, Provincie Zuid Holland, AGC
Funded by the European Union through the Crossroads Interreg Vlaanderen-Nederland program, this project aims to develop a holistic circular solution to PV modules. The work is being carried out through a collaboration between Biosphere Solar and Soltech, a belgium-based, solar manufacturing company.
Biosphere Solar began with a proof-of-concept (PoC) that had suboptimal circularity and performance standards. This was largely a result of low optical continuity between the glass and solar cells, as well as a poor thermal profile. In addition to that, the PoC had subpar circularity and disassembly capabilities: although the Biosphere Solar team demonstrated that manual disassembly methods could cut the edge seal, separate the front and back sheet, and fully extract individual components, the process was slow and labour intensive. Further research and developments were essential to systematise and automate the disassembly process.
The project therefore aims to take the next step towards developing a functioning prototype, while also considering the associated production and refurbishment line. To achieve these ambitions, three main objectives have been identified:
1. Improving Optical Continuity and Thermal Profile: Enhancing the optical and thermal properties of the PV module to meet industry standards for efficiency and performance.
2. Systematizing and Automating Disassembly: developing automated disassembly processes to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and scalability of recycling and reusing PV module components.
3. Designing a Sustainable Production Line: researching and consequently designing the production process that aligns with circular economy principles, ensuring minimal environmental impact and maximised resource efficiency.
By addressing these objectives, the project aims to create a circular PV module that not only meets high performance standards but also contributes to a sustainable solar industry.
Budget: €357,940.00
Duration: 20 months
Project Partners: Biosphere Solar, Soltech
Download 6-months Progress Report
The world of Building Integrated PV (BIPV) is growing rapidly. A key leader in this field is Kameleon Solar, having developed cutting edge technology to create aesthetically pleasing solar panels. Kameleon Solar is redefining what a solar panel can look like. In this project, Biosphere Solar is providing its expertise to turn beautiful solar panels into beautiful and circular solar panels. With project partners BIPV.world, Sioux Technologies, Rimas, Steinfort glas, Brainstorm en Concept, and TNO, the project aims to accelerate the transition to circularity and renewable energy.
The project started in Summer 2024, and has a planned duration of four years. Updates can be found on our LinkedIn, and reports will be uploaded on this page throughout the project.
Budget: €2,864,009.50
Duration: 36 months
Project Partners: Kameleon Solar, Biosphere Solar, BIPV.world, Sioux Technologies, Rimas, Steinfort Glas, Brainstorm en Concept, TNO.
Following its spin-off from TU Delft and initial establishment in Delft, Biosphere Solar received a pivotal opportunity to relocate to Blue City in Rotterdam. This move was made possible through a subsidy allocation by the Municipality of Rotterdam (Gemeente Rotterdam), which funded the initial development of a pilot production line and market research conducted by Biosphere Solar. Rotterdam, home to one of the largest ports in Europe and a critical hub in the solar supply chain, provides an ideal location for Biosphere Solar to begin scaling its operations effectively.
Budget: €81,000.00
Duration: 12 months
Project Partners: Biosphere Solar, Blue City
Through the support of the Municipality of Rotterdam, Biosphere Solar has been able to settle in Blue City - the circular hub of Rotterdam. This relocation gives Biosphere Solar the space needed to pilot a mini-production line in the heart of the city of Rotterdam. Holding one of the largest ports in Europe, and as a key stopping point for much of the solar industry, Rotterdam is an ideal location for Biosphere Solar to begin scaling its operations.
