
SolarBEAT outdoor test facility for BIPV(T)
SolarBEAT facilitates the development, testing and monitoring of innovative solar energy products in a real life environment. Both solar thermal and solar electricity are within the scope of this test facility.
Research on PV
Research is being done on complete systems and individual components such as: e.g. new Building Integrated PV (BIPV) products, solar thermal collectors or complete systems, PVT (combination of electricity and thermal), and electronical solar-related products, such as (micro-)inverters and power optimizers.

The outdoor research at SolarBEAT serves several purposes:
- In close collaboration with the project team that contains a.o. architects, builders, developers, and installers, we further improve existing solar products or find opportunities to develop new innovative products.
- We determine the performance model based on high quality measurement data, measured 24/7 from calibrated equipment. This is essential for a sound business case and can be crucial before market introduction.
- Together we showcase the solar product to potential customers.

SolarBEAT is equipped with the highest standard weather station and a dense network of sensors for irradiation, temperature and energy yield. Moreover, SolarBEAT also has a full installation for solar thermal research with buffer tanks, flow controllers and many sensors. All sensors are synchronized and stored in a central database server. Access of data is professionally organized in such a way that confidential and project-specific data never gets mixed up with public data or data of other projects.
Get inspired
Creative ivy-shaped solar panel system against façade High Tech Campus Eindhoven
Will we soon be able to turn our homes and business premises into one big solar panel? This is getting closer thanks to a special collaboration between TNO, Inbo Architects, Van der Leegte Werkt, Flexipol, and High Tech Campus Eindhoven.


Paved dykes are promising for solar panel application
A study of the possibilities for adding solar panels to dykes shows that solar panels placed on a paved dyke surface are the most suitable and can be applied without much additional research.


Europe explores potential of solar powered vehicles
An international public-private consortium will address how solar-powered vehicles can support the transition to an all-electric transport system in the EU.


Favourable business case for solar heat in homes
Solar heat can make an important contribution to increasing the sustainability of our heat supply. Photovoltaic-thermic (PVT) systems on the roof can, in combination with a heat pump, supply homes with heat and hot water. This would make natural gas redundant, thereby decreasing carbon emissions. There are plenty of options, but what about the cost-benefit analysis?


Solar energy
The Solar energy expertise group develops technology for solar panels, including bifacial solar modules and silicon solar cell technology.