Last month, EuropeOn’s Secretary General, Julie Beaufils, travelled to Neuchâtel (Switzerland) for the 18-month project meeting of Increase, the EU-funded initiative driving innovation in (building) integrated photovoltaics (IPV and BIPV). This gathering was an excellent opportunity to assess the project’s progress alongside fellow partners and refine the roadmap for the months ahead.
The discussions took place in CSEM, which is the prominent Swiss research and development centre active in the fields of precision manufacturing, digitalisation, and renewable energy. Partners focused on evaluating achievements in project development and dissemination efforts. A key milestone was the demonstration of a portable colorimeter prototype for building-integrated photovoltaics, a promising step towards improving the visual adaptability of IPV, making solar technology more versatile and aesthetically pleasing. Partners also exchanged insights on upcoming objectives and challenges.
A highlight of the event was a joint workshop with the SPHINX project (also co-funded by the EU), where participants tackled key issues such as co-creation strategies, technical challenges, and policy barriers affecting IPV adoption. As a fitting conclusion, attendees joined the “La Solaire dans le Bâtiment” conference, where experts shared valuable perspectives on solar technology advancements and policy developments. Special thanks to CSEM and EPFL for hosting this impactful event!
EuropeOn is proud to be a partner in Increase, a Horizon Europe project dedicated to advancing BIPV and IPV solutions that combine energy efficiency with aesthetics. The project focuses on innovations in PV module design, coatings, and operational guidelines to minimize glare, enhance environmental performance and fire resistance, and integrate IPV facades, roofs, and noise barriers. Through pilot projects and rigorous testing, Increase aims to provide practical guidance for accelerating the deployment of sustainable solar technologies. As these technologies will scale up, they will represent a new opportunity for electrical contractors to install them and integrate them in energy systems.
For more information, visit Increase’s website.
