TECNALIA creates a start-up for the decarbonisation of urban environments and mobility through integrable photovoltaic technology
- The new company, located in Bizkaia, will invest more than €1 million in the development of its manufacturing plant and plans to train a team of 20 professionals over the coming 5 years.
- IZPITEK is the result of 10 years of joint work between BRANKA SOLUTIONS and TECNALIA, through its Deep Tech Venture Builder TECNALIA Ventures. Gestión de Capital Riesgo País Vasco (CRPV), through its EZTEN FCR fund, and SFK have participated in the operation. Its innovativeness lies in the versatility and absolute integrability of the products it markets.
Derio, 14th October 2022. The deployment of solar energy is a key element in the decarbonisation of urban environments and contributes to accelerating the necessary energy transition towards a low-carbon economy. In this context, BRANKA SOLUTIONS and TECNALIA, through its Deep Tech Venture Builder TECNALIA Ventures, have created the IZPITEK start-up and complemented it with a capital increase round in which Gestión de Capital Riesgo País Vasco, through its EZTEN FCR fund, and SFK have participated. The start-up designs, develops, manufactures and markets integrable photovoltaic modules and components by encapsulating photovoltaic cells based on composite materials.
As its CEO, Rafael González, points out, "IZPITEK offers solutions for Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV), Solar Installations, Mobility and Urban Environment and Sustainable Urban Furniture, based on a patented technology that combines the advantages of photovoltaic solar energy and composite materials, giving rise to multifunctional solutions that can be integrated".
González adds that "the main advantages of the products developed by IZPITEK are versatility in design; absolute integrability; lightness; energy efficiency and competitive cost”. The start-up's portfolio includes solar products, such as roof tiles (InTile), roof panels (InPlak), semi-flexible curved panels (InFlex) or coatings (InFilm).
IZPITEK solutions
IZPITEK is the result of 10 years of joint work between BRANKA SOLUTIONS and TECNALIA, through its Deep Tech Venture Builder, TECNALIA Ventures, and has been complemented with a capital increase in which EZTEN FCR and SFK have participated. The company will invest more than €1 million in the development of its new production facilities, which will also be located in Bizkaia, and it plans to train a team of 20 professionals over the next 5 years.
IZPITEK integrates photovoltaics into lightweight structural components. In this way, it offers customers multifunctional products based on its patented technology of encapsulating photovoltaic cells in composite materials and hence unlocking the full potential of photovoltaic solar energy.
Therefore, its Solar Roof Tiles (InTile) offer an integrative solution in the design of residential buildings, architectural elements, civil constructions or urban furniture, among others. They can be adapted to the characteristics of the roof, in terms of geometry and support colour, as well as in terms of energy generation capacity depending on the geometry used. It is intended for use in residential housing; energy communities; public buildings and civil structures and street furniture.
On the other hand, its Covered Panels (InPlak) offer an integrative solution in the design of industrial constructions, large commercial surfaces, architectural elements and civil constructions of larger dimensions, administrative buildings for public use, etc. This type of panel integrates an element as a building material and an electrical energy generating system to form a single product capable of merging both functionalities. In this case, the dimensions per panel are adapted to the surfaces to be treated.
Furthermore, its Semi-Flexible Curved Panels (InFlex) are intended for large structures with special architectural features and shapes, where a conventional panel cannot provide a solution.
Finally, its Solar Coatings (InFilm) are a highly integrative solution for both horizontal and vertical structural surfaces, as well as glazed surfaces. It has a highly transparent cell support, which can reach thicknesses similar to those of a sheet of paper.
About TECNALIA
TECNALIA is the largest applied research and technological development centre in Spain, a European benchmark and member of the Basque Research and Technology Alliance. We work with companies and institutions to increase their competitiveness, quality of life of people and achieve sustainable growth. We do so thanks to people who are passionate about technology and committed to building a better society. Its main scopes of action are: digital transformation, smart manufacturing, energy transition, sustainable mobility, urban ecosystem, and personalised health. (www.tecnalia.com).
Through TECNALIA Ventures, its deep tech venture builder, the centre recovers its investment in R&D&I, identifying and managing business opportunities based on sophisticated technologies (deep tech). To this end, it deploys a venture building process that enables it to connect the three fundamental pillars of any innovation ecosystem: people who generate technology-based ideas (minds), managers capable of transforming technological ideas into business opportunities (management) and investors who are committed to deep tech entrepreneurial initiatives (money). (www.tecnaliaventures.com).
About BRANKA SOLUTIONS
BRANKA SOLUTIONS is a technology-based company that integrates engineering and manufacturing in two business lines:
- Development of industrial solutions in composites
- Marine autonomous technology
BRANKA bases its business model on the development of technological solutions derived from an intense research activity in materials, processes and systems. The company develops multidisciplinary projects for various sectors, such as the robotics industry, energy, mobility and the marine sectors, among others. (www.brankasolutions.com).
About EZTEN FCR
EZTEN FCR is a venture capital fund managed by Gestión de Capital Riesgo del País Vasco, a company belonging to the SPRI-Basque Business Development Agency Group. EZTEN FCR invests in innovative Basque companies, especially in the fields of biosciences, advanced manufacturing and clean energy, in order to boost their development.
