Algavoltaica

ALGAVOLTAICA intends to develop a system of panels for facades that integrates nature into cities, producing energy and food and bringing climate benefits to buildings (shading system). This system will be equipped with an interface where users can monitor algae health and energy production and with a battery that can store the generated energy. In order to make the panel as customizable as possible its design will be generated with parametric drawing and its opaque parts produced through digital manufacturing (including 3D printing). 

Under this perspective, the ALGAVOLTAICA project focuses on:

1. Implementation of Nature-Based Solutions in system panels, which host the algae that can carry ecosystem services with capacities production of natural superfoods and CO2 capture;
2. Generation of clean energy by taking advantage of the use of algae, located in the panels themselves, for the self-generation of electrical energy based on photosynthesis, integrating a bio-photovoltaic system;
3. Development of an ultra-efficient battery and power management system for collection of the energy produced by the panels, managed by an efficient system that reduces losses to the minimum possible and stores energy to complement the production of energy in the phases of greatest demand;
4. Digital manufacturing, specifically its application in the construction sector, for which we will work on analyzing and optimizing the drawing process and manufacturing customizable panels for building facades;
5. Application of sensors and data analytics systems for monitoring the growing conditions, health levels, and photosynthetic capacity of the algae present on the wall.

The ALGAVOLTAICA system will consist of the following components:

• Panel manufactured with digital manufacturing techniques (with several techniques, including 3D printing) that will host the algae and cast shade on the building. This element will constitute the module of the vegetal wall and thanks to the use of digital fabrication for its production will have great flexibility since each part can be manufactured with a different shape from the others. In this way, it will be possible to adapt modules to customer needs and the environmental conditions of the place of installation.
• Bio-photovoltaic system integrated into the panel design for the generation of energy from algae.
• Energy conversion and storage system based on the use of highly efficient voltage storage and conversion technologies and developed to be able to store and supply energy.
• ALGAVOLTAICA system monitoring system for the collection of data relating to algae health and energy production.
• Water exchange system between panels whose operation will be based on analysis of the data collected by the monitoring system.
• Monitoring and control platform that allows the user to freely access direct and intuitive access to the information collected and support decision-making for the management of green infrastructure.

Under these conditions, the project intends to work on the application of construction sustainability and the use of clean energy. The implementation of new technologies developed in the project will result in tools that affect the achievement of new efficient and sustainable models of the energy and construction sector. The expected results of this project will be shared with SMEs to enable solutions to increase their competitiveness and provide competitive levers.