Meet our team: VITSOLC

VITSOLC, a Barcelona-based startup and ICFO spin-off, is dedicated to creating transparent solar modules that seamlessly blend into applications where traditional photovoltaics fall short — such as electric vehicles, sustainable buildings, and greenhouses. In the five interview of the “Meet our team” series, Sergi Cuesta, CTO of VITSOLC, shares insights into its role in SOREC2 project, the challenges of scaling up new technologies, and how the team’s industrial expertise can contribute to bringing cutting-edge renewable energy solutions closer to market reality.

First of all Sergi, can you briefly introduce VITSOLC?

Founded in 2022, VITSOLC is a startup based in Barcelona that originated as an ICFO spin-off. The mission of VITSOLC is producing transparent photovoltaic modules that can be fully integrated in situations where existing photovoltaics solutions cannot be implemented. Transparent photovoltaic can be implemented in electrical vehicles, greenhouses and sustainable buildings, to provide renewable energy while preserving the aesthetical appeal.

Which is your specific role and contribution to the project?

As members of SOREC2, VITSOLC aims to contribute by offering our experience in transparent solar cells upscaling. In this regard, VITSOLC will assist in laying out the plan for the up scaling of the transparent OPV cells as a component of the PEC prototype. Following that route, we aim to lead the prototype towards a viable market solution.

What are the most important challenges you are facing in this project?

The main challenge of VITSOLC in SOREC2 is the scaling-up of the transparent organic solar cells. Transparent photovoltaics is an emerging technology, which is still at an early stage of development. The fact that a reliable commercial solution does not exist on the market serves as evidence. The main limitation is the significant reduction in efficiency that occurs with the upscaling from a lab-prototype to an operational module. Figuring out how to overcome these losses is the most important challenge for VITSOLC in this project.

What are the main achievements so far?

From VITSOLC, along with the other partners of the consortium, we have initiated our activities towards our objective. For that, we are developing transparent contacts that add to the overall cell transparency. On top of that, we are also building an outdoor measuring setup that will enable us to characterize and monitor the performance of our cells under real conditions.

What added value and experience can the VITSOLC team bring to the SOREC2 project?

VITSOLC team has an extensive knowledge and experience in upscaling of transparent photovoltaics. In addition to the high research potential that the consortium already has, VITSOLC will try to provide its industrial expertise and idea-to-application mindset to define the lab-to-market roadmap for turning the SOREC2 prototype into a solution that can be implemented in practical applications.

Why do you think it is important for VITSOLC to take part in this project?

We are delighted to be part of this project because it brings us the opportunity to work with research organizations using cutting edge technology to implement an energy storage system that integrates renewable energy transformation. From our point of view, it is also exciting to discover new uses for our transparent solar cells and help towards the reduction of emissions.

What is the most interesting part of the work you are doing in SOREC2? Why?

Dealing with a brand-new technology is the most fascinating aspect of SOREC2, which is always exciting for a deep-tech start-up like us. This allows us to think out-of-the-box and apply novel concepts, and potentially even discover new ways to implement our technology.