The current energy and climate crisis requires the more widespread use of renewable energies. Photovoltaics is an excellent method of supplying the city's energy needs with clean, renewable energy. Typically, photovoltaic modules have been installed on large tracts of land, or in small installations on the rooftops of buildings. It is essential to find new spaces where PV modules can be installed to autonomously power electronic devices, which are essential to create smart cities, such as environmental sensors or lighting devices. However, commercially available PV modules are difficult to integrate into urban architecture due to their rigidity, opacity or aesthetic concerns. In recent years, the efficiency of emerging PV technologies has increased significantly, which has led to their initial commercialisation. Among these technologies, organic photovoltaics stand out for their low-cost due to their ease of production and the materials used, their flexibility and the ease of adjusting the colour and transparency of photovoltaic modules. In addition, the optical properties of organic materials mean that organic PV maintains high efficiency in diffuse incident light, which is ideal for urban environments, where direct sunlight is often not possible. These characteristics make organic photovoltaics an ideal technology for integration into buildings and street furniture. In this project, photovoltaic modules will be made from organic materials using printing methods. Specific combinatorial screening techniques will be used to accelerate the selection of the optimal materials in terms of both efficiency and stability. Also, as a proof of concept, a mock-up of a bus stop shelter will be created, integrating a photovoltaic module to power LED lighting. This project is an example of future green and ambitious policy decisions to tackle climate change.
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