Zero-defect manufacturing for PV modules
06. September 2024
The EU project Platform-ZERO, which has an innovation budget of 10 million euros and 12 European partners, including RISC Software GmbH, aims to achieve zero-defect manufacturing in the photovoltaic industry. Significant progress has already been made during the first 18 months.
Platform-ZERO's work paves the way for defect-free manufacturing in the photovoltaic industry, to both improve the quality of products and lower the costs of the next generation of photovoltaic systems. The project’s progress was presented at a meeting with the European Commission (HaDEA Agency) in Brussels this summer and received a positive assessment.
A detailed analysis of the industrial requirements was successfully completed. Advanced sensor stations have been developed and efficiently integrated into production lines, significantly improving real-time fault detection. A powerful big data infrastructure ensures effective management and analysis of collected data.
Modular sensor prototypes have been developed and tested to ensure their flexibility in various industrial environments. These sensors are integrated into customizable monitoring stations, which enable comprehensive process monitoring and quality control. A carefully engineered AI system architecture forms the backbone of this intelligent monitoring, supported by efficient algorithms for data processing.
Platform-ZERO's innovative approach is being tested at four pilot plants in Spain, Germany, Austria and Poland, with a focus on intelligent coatings, highly efficient solar modules and flexible solar film. Each pilot plant tracks progress using a special demonstrator.
The project focuses on the third generation of PV technologies such as CIGS and perovskites, which offer higher efficiency, lower costs and additional functionalities compared to conventional silicon-based PV systems. These materials are well suited for automated manufacturing and Industry 4.0 / IoT strategies, moving Europe further forward on the path to climate-neutral energy generation.
For more information, visit the RISC Software website here:
Photo: © Platform-ZERO