What is R&D at ABORA

R&D is the driving force behind ABORA. It is what motivates us. It is what allows us to survive the intensity of everyday life.

Because innovation often arises in environments that promote an ‘anything goes’ attitude, even if right now ‘nothing fits’, because you have to have lots of ideas to come up with ONE good idea and, as we all know, there is only one letter’s difference between believing and creating. And that’s how we live at ABORA, believing and creating.

From the development of the first hybrid solar panel (PVT) to having more than 40,000 m2 installed and being present in almost 40 countries around the world. Small steps, big advances, giant goals. And R&D always being part of our journey.

When we received €2.5 million in funding from the European Union (H2020 EIC-SME Instrument), we shifted our focus to designing a PVT from scratch, centred solely on achieving the essential: transforming solar radiation into heat and electricity. A new product, but with the same intention of meeting our customers’ needs by boosting their business in a society that must become increasingly sustainable and circular.

And so the SHE (Solar, Heat & Electricity) panel was born. Different materials for a modular design that aims to facilitate the separation of its components. The result, still in development due to its high complexity, will be a PVT with a longer service life, greater recyclability and which prevents the generation of waste.

The eco-design of capital goods is no longer an option, it is a necessity that an industrial manufacturer must take on with responsibility. Diversity in the use of encapsulating polymers that are more durable and less toxic, the introduction of elements based on recycled and recyclable resources (glass, aluminium, cardboard, etc.), as well as continuous improvement in process traceability are examples that will undoubtedly open the door for us to position ourselves in a privileged place within the European renewable energy market.

But ABORA not only innovates in what it does, but also in how it does it: having our own production line gives us the flexibility required to manufacture new and different prototypes. In addition, our processes are constantly adapting to ensure that all the requirements of the most demanding quality standards in the sector are met.

As a third pillar, although we know that PVT is a fundamental element in the installation, it coexists with others that are also important, especially so that the energy generated can be used to its full potential. To this end, we continue to research its integration into different systems such as heat pumps, sorption systems, efficient storage, etc.

And, at this point, all these contributions would not be complete without the corresponding testing and validation. For this, we have the ‘aboratory’. The ‘aboratory’ is our space for developing the following PVTs. We work to improve their efficiency, cost, aesthetics and durability, among other things. Before launching a new panel on the market, the most rigorous tests are carried out in the ‘aboratory’ to ensure that our technology continues to be synonymous with quality.

With these premises in mind, we can say that R&D in its three main areas (product, process and system), together with the ‘aboratory’, ensure that ABORA remains at the forefront of advanced and disruptive solar technology, while remaining aligned with current sustainable development policies. However, we must not forget that this R&D also focuses on creating spaces where free and critical thinking can come together to build the next project, the next ambition. Will you stay with us to find out what it is?