Researchers Jordi Veirman and Gabriella Gonnella (Eurac Research) together with Associate Professor Aart van Bezooijen (unibz) organised a workshop for a small group of design students from the Free University of Bozen/Bolzano, specifically: Flavia Padulano, Pietro Rista, Grant Allen Schultz, Robert Schnüll. The goal was to produce both standard and unconventional solar modules using diffusive and coloured components. The event gave students a hands-on opportunity to co-create new ideas at the intersection of design and engineering (while also having fun along the way!).
The workshop strengthened EURAC’s collaboration with unibz and helped share knowledge on PV module prototyping, particularly around colour and diffusive properties which is a core activity within the Solar Design project.
Ahead of the workshop, students explored the material library of the Faculty of Design and Art to identify materials of interest. They then assessed each material’s compatibility with lamination to develop customised, innovative PV prototypes, and defined the final Bill-of-Materials, specifying their composition, for each module. Finally, they processed the modules and evaluated their electrical and aesthetic performance.
Events like this play a key role in strengthening collaboration and translating research into practice. Indeed, disseminating knowledge about PV prototyping is a central pillar of the Solar Design project.
