Photo: Brite Solar
Greek startup Brite Solar is building a production line in Patras for transparent solar panels for agrivoltaic production. It completed a series A financing round earlier this year.
Thessaloniki is becoming a hub for innovative solar power solutions, with Organic Electronic Technologies (OET) and Brite Solar both developing transparent agrivoltaic panels. The latter is building a factory in the Industrial Area of Patras which it expects to complete by the end of the year.
Founded in 2017, the startup makes nanomaterial coatings for glass to save energy (for buildings) or contribute to electricity production, primarily above crops, on canopies or greenhouses. The aim is to achieve balance for sharing solar radiation between energy production and crop cultivation in such a way that none is sacrificed in favor of the other, according to Brite Solar. It means that its agrisolar panels have weaker performances than conventional modules.
The company adjusts the coating to the plant’s needs and the location. It currently sources its solar panels sources from China and India.
Plant’s capacity is set to be doubled
Brite Solar is building a production facility in Patras with an annual capacity of 150 MW in peak terms. It aims to then boost it to 300 MW.
In a series A financing round earlier this year, the company secured EUR 8.6 million. Greece-based New Energy Capital (NEC) led the venture capital investment. The European Innovation Council (EIC), which approved funding earlier to Brite Solar, participated with Brace 4 Impact and Deep Capital Group. NEC is managed by New Energy Partners (NEP).
Brite Solar has pilot installations from Canada to Indonesia
The Greek firm has installed pilot systems in Canada, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Netherlands, the United States, France, Spain, Romania and Singapore.
Agrisolar is the use of land for both agriculture and solar power generation. In a narrower sense, the concept implies placing photovoltaic panels high above the ground, on supports, to allow cattle grazing or growing fruits, vegetables, aromatic or fodder plants. Electricity production costs are higher that way than for ground-mounted photovoltaic plants, so energy companies and food producers are looking for optimal solutions.
Some studies have indicated that the concept, also known as agri-PV, enables more stable microclimatic conditions and lowers evaporation. In addition, above-ground panels protect the crops from hail and heavy rain.
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