Solar innovation reshaping building facades at NOI Techpark

A research and industry collaboration initiative explored how photovoltaic technology could be more effectively integrated into building facades, with potential applications across the construction and renewable energy sectors.

By integrating solar generation into the building envelope rather than treating it as a separate addition, the project aimed to deliver practical benefits across the construction supply chain, including for module manufacturers, facade engineers, window makers and construction companies. A central objective was to help architects and developers specify solar solutions without compromising a building's design, a factor that  can limit the uptake of conventional panel installations.

The project was supported through the Fusion Grant initiative, delivered in partnership with NOI Techpark, alongside the South Tyrolean Business Association and Rete Economia–Wirtschaftsnetz. It brought together the expertise of the Institute for Renewable Energy at Eurac Research and STG Lab, the research, development and prototyping start-up of Gruppo STG.

The PV Face project ran from April 2025 to March 2026, focusing on strengthening the regional supply chain for integrated photovoltaics. Through the Fusion Grant programme, NOI Techpark creates opportunities for research and industry to work together on applied innovation with potential relevance beyond the individual project, providing a framework for this type of cooperation in the region, and fostering opportunities for early-career researchers to participate in industry-relevant projects.