PRO-S PROJECT
The search for viable alternative energy sources is a global priority now that the environmental impacts of fossil-fuel usage are becoming more evident and have developed into a worldwide climate crisis. Solar energy is by far the most abundant form of renewable energy, available all over the Earth’s surface, with the potential to partially replace fossil fuels for electricity generation. With more than 512,3 GW installed at the end of the year 2018, PV could provide almost 3% of the global electricity demand. Current installed capacities save every year close to 600 Mtons of CO2-eq emissions, which represent a reduction of 4.5% of the power sector emissions. While some countries start to take PV seriously, most haven’t yet considered the full potential of an energy source which went below 0,02 USD per kWh in the most competitive tenders.
Unfortunately, PV’s mass adoption is hindered by its weather dependency (yields can drop up to 90% of cloudy days), the cost of their energy storage systems (Li-ion batteries) and environmental concerns regarding the toxicity of some of their components. Today’s PV modules are battery and sunlight dependent and contain hazardous materials – such as cadmium compounds, silicon tetrachloride, hexafluoroethane and lead, among others – which make the recycling of the modules complex and expensive. In addition, current modules lack transparency and offer limited flexibility which reduce their potential future market applications.
To overcome the challenges posed by our current climate crisis, the European Union has developed The European Green Deal, as a roadmap for making the EU’s economy sustainable and to become climate neutral by 2050. Reaching this target will require action by all sectors of the economy, including “ensuring buildings are more energy efficient”. Buildings and construction together account for 36% of global final energy use and 39% of energy-related CO2 emissions. Thus, we have decided to design our bio-based nanotech module to be used as a Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) module, helping buildings reach the objectives of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (Directive 2018/844/EU) that requires all new buildings to be nearly zero-energy by the end of 2020 as part of the Clean energy for all Europeans package.
Unfortunately, PV’s mass adoption is hindered by its weather dependency (yields can drop up to 90% of cloudy days), the cost of their energy storage systems (Li-ion batteries) and environmental concerns regarding the toxicity of some of their components. Today’s PV modules are battery and sunlight dependent and contain hazardous materials – such as cadmium compounds, silicon tetrachloride, hexafluoroethane and lead, among others – which make the recycling of the modules complex and expensive. In addition, current modules lack transparency and offer limited flexibility which reduce their potential future market applications.
To overcome the challenges posed by our current climate crisis, the European Union has developed The European Green Deal, as a roadmap for making the EU’s economy sustainable and to become climate neutral by 2050. Reaching this target will require action by all sectors of the economy, including “ensuring buildings are more energy efficient”. Buildings and construction together account for 36% of global final energy use and 39% of energy-related CO2 emissions. Thus, we have decided to design our bio-based nanotech module to be used as a Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) module, helping buildings reach the objectives of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (Directive 2018/844/EU) that requires all new buildings to be nearly zero-energy by the end of 2020 as part of the Clean energy for all Europeans package.
OUR SOLUTION
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PRO-S® is the first toxic-free photonanobiotech module based on our patented technology (WO2019012111) that uses conductive small organic molecules to produce electricity from UV and visible light in a cost-efficient manner. It outperforms vs. current PV technologies as:
1) Sunlight independent and high efficiency, 60% more in cloudy days and 16% in sunny days compared to standard PV; 2) 100% recyclable and 75% reusable; 3) Proteins are independent of natural resources, so it avoids the exploitation of resources and its price fluctuations. |
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PROTON's PRO-S CONTRIBUTION TO GREEN DEAL
Green Deal Objective |
Project contribution |
Quantified contribution by 2030 |
Quantified contribution by 2050 |
Clean, affordable and secure energy |
Our solution helps buildings become Nearly zero - energy buildings (NZEB) |
586.343 MWh electricity generated 209.324 tonnes of CO2 eq avoided |
1.336.849 MWh electricity generated 477.255 tonnes of CO2 eq avoided |
Clean and circular economy |
Our solution reduces upstream, operational and end-of-life CO2 emissions from the manufacturing of PV panels by enabling their remanufacturing and hight quality recycling |
100% of panel is recycled and 75% of panel is re-used |
100% of panel is reused |
Energy and resource efficient building and renovating |
Our solution reduces the emissions of CO2 from buildings by increasing their energy efficiency and in turn reducing energy poverty through the reduction of energy bills |
Increasing by 25% the energy efficiency of the buildings in the EU Reducing energy bills by 60% |
Increasing by 50% the energy efficiency of the buildings in the EU Reducing energy bills by 60% |
