On 12 and 13 October in Leuven, EBC attended the kick-off meeting of the brand-new EU-funded project INCREASE, which stands for “effective advaNCements towards uptake of photovoltaic (PV) integrated in buildingS & infrastructure.”
The project, funded under the Horizon Europe programme, will run under the lead of the Belgian energy specialists company Th!nk E for 54 months with a total budget of EUR 10 million. The project brings together a consortium of industry experts, manufacturers, innovators, and construction representatives, as well as research centres and academic institutions, in order to drive novelties in PV integration in buildings and enhance the adoption of solar power in construction and infrastructure projects.
The INCREASE project’s goal is to promote the broader adoption of Integrated Photovoltaic (IPV) systems by introducing innovations in module and system design, encapsulation and coatings, as well as operation guidelines. These innovations aim at enhancing aesthetics, reducing glare, minimizing environmental impact, improving fire resistance, and preventing fouling. At the system level, the project focuses on IPV facade and roof concepts, as well as noise barriers. The project also seeks to provide practical guidance for infrastructure IPV projects, validated through various pilots. Additionally, it will involve rigorous testing in line with industry standards and employ optimisation software for the selection of IPV size and characteristics based on building and infrastructure-specific factors. User feedback, co-creation, and the multiple demonstrations across European countries will support market acceptance and stimulate cross-sector collaboration, policy development, investor engagement, and business case assessments to drive large-scale market adoption.
EBC will actively engage with policymakers and decision-makers at the European level to advocate for policies and regulations that support the inclusion renewable energy solutions, including PV integration in construction and infrastructure, with SMEs playing an important role in implementing such applications. Furthermore, EBC will facilitate the exchange of knowledge and best practices among its network of builders, contractors, and professionals in the construction sector, ensuring that the latest innovations and techniques of PV integration reach the sector’s forefront led by SMEs. Last but not least, EBC will also play a pivotal role in disseminating the outcomes of the INCREASE project to a wide European audience in collaboration with SolarPower Europe and EuropeON.
 | INCREASE’s official website will be available soon, stay tuned! |
 | Funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe, Innovation Actions programme under grant agreement No 101136112. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. |