A repair solution to eliminate systematic replacement for improved solar power plant production, profitability, and environmental impacts
Replacing defective photovoltaic panels with new ones is today the only solution for maintaining the performance of solar power plants affected by module defects. Solreed is the first European company to offer solar power plant operators a high-quality repair solution at a competitive price.
Photovoltaic panel. Credit: Solreed
Solar panels are built to last between 20 and 30 years. However, many fail long before this, due to problems such as diode, soldering or sealing faults that were previously beyond repair. In practice, solar power plant operators schedule the replacement of defective panels with new ones, which can lead to incompatibility problems and incompressible production times for new panels. In the meantime, the faulty panels produce no electricity.
Solreed can monitor solar power plants and panels, predict and detect faults based on a digital signature, and maintain or repair panels on site in just a few minutes per panel using semi-automated proprietary protocols. The solution is backed by two CEA patents and Solreed’s unique know-how. Power plant operators can look forward to an extra ten years' life for repaired panels, and a significantly reduced carbon footprint.
Solreed’s solution—the only one of its kind in Europe—will support a zero-carbon second-life solar panel industry. The startup is partnering with energy utility Engie Green to bring this vision to fruition.
The startup’s two founders include a CEA researcher who participated in the Magellan incubation program. Part of the company’s activities are housed at the French National Solar Energy Institute, INES. R&D with the CEA is continuing through French National Research Agency (ANR) and European programs.
Key figure: 1.2 tons
Repairing a solar panel instead of replacing it avoids 1.2 tons of GHG emissions
Targeted Markets:
- Solar power plant operators
- Buyers of zero-carbon solar panels: government, commercial building owners/operators
Technologies used:
- Continuous monitoring of individual panels to predict and diagnose faults
- Automated repair protocols
- Mobile on-site intervention unit
Year founded: 2024
CEA Institute: CEA-Liten
www.solreed.com