Heliatek deploys its first large BIOPV project on the African continent

 

The German organic photovoltaics supplier Heliatek GmbH has teamed up with Kandil Steel to realise its first building-integrated organic photovoltaic (BIOPV) pilot project in Africa. HeliaFilm, Heliatek’s organic solar film, is at the core of this installation in Egypt, which represents a first test project for further steel applications by Kandil Steel.

“I am happy that we are progressing on our global roll out,” states Thibaud Le Séguillon, CEO of Heliatek. “It is a key step forward in our strategy of providing de-centralised energy generation solutions used directly on buildings all over the world.”

The project was funded and managed by Kandil Steel, the leading steel provider in Egypt. The company is working on new solutions for distributed energy generation because of rising energy prices and declining government subsidies. The company plans to establish the combination of its steel panels with HeliaFilmas a new product for the BIOPV market.

Egypt’s hot and sunny weather conditions are ideal for HeliaFilm due to its excellent high temperature performance, leading to outstanding energy harvesting results. Moving to renewable energy sources is inevitable and this is supported in Egypt by both the government and community. Moreover, this project emphasises Kandil's vision to provide innovative solutions to its customers as well as keeping its responsibility towards the Environment.

In this installation, the HeliaFilmshave a custom length of 2.5m and are combined with steel as an integrated building material. Kandil Steel has chosen opaque and blue HeliaFilm. The development of HeliaFilm is carried out by Heliatek in Dresden, Germany and the target is to establish a high volume manufacturing line by 2018.