FutureVoltaics is a spin off from the Spanish National Research Council.
We have developed VECTHOR: a new type of solar photovoltaic system based on vertical bifacial solar panels and specially designed reflectors.
VECTHOR cuts in half the payback time of conventional rooftop photovoltaics.
Make photovoltaic solar energy more affordable and manageable by producing more power when needed the most.
More power in winter, early morning, late afternoon and cloudy days.
Current photovoltaic systems tend to produce more power than needed at noon and to produce too little during winter.
A market-ready technology is needed to flatten the solar energy production curve.
As more solar power is installed, the electricity supply becomes larger than demand during noon, reducing the value of electricity.
Our technology produces more power at times of high electricity price.
In comparison with the conventional solution typically used in warehouses and large area rooftops, VECTHOR has up to 80% more energy yield.
VECTHOR combines the best advantages of fixed tilt and tracking systems, and greatly imporves performance in cloudy weather.
The graphs shown above represent modelling data with real metereological data for Puertollano in La Mancha (Spain) assuming 95% reflectivity, 95% bifaciality, 3% soiling on the solar panels, and 10% soiling on the reflectors (we assume little or no cleaning for our system). The map below shows the energy yield advantage of VECTHOR over horizontal single axis trackers.
VECTHOR stands for VErtical CollecTor with HOrizontal Reflectors. Our patent pending design is based on vertical bifacial solar panels and specially designed reflectors to maintain optimal irradiance on the solar panels at all times without using trackers or any moving parts. The current performance being demonstrated by our technology exceeds single axis trackers without using moving parts. The system has been successfully wind tunnel tested at 120 km/h.
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Higher yearly energy yield.
- Lower energy cost, higher return on investment.
- More production when electricity is most valuable:
• Cloudy days.
• Winter sunny days.
• Early morning and late afternoon.
• Less curtailment
• Less need for storage
- Less maintenance and longer service life-time:
• No moving parts. Less maintenance than trackers.
• Less UV exposure, less encapsulant degradation.
• Improved radiative and convective cooling.
- Reduced heat island effect.
VECTHOR was recently highlighted at the front page of
PV-Magazine, the leading source for news about the solar energy market.
If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact us!
manuel.hinojosa futurevoltaics.com
j.ripalda futurevoltaics.com
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Our factory and offices are at:
Av. Real de Pinto 162 (Factoría Industrial de Villaverde),
Madrid 28021, Spain.
Telephone land line: +34 91 424 59 44