Austrian company Sunbooster has secured a European patent for its vertical photovoltaic solution designed for integration into fences.
The technology is now protected in 18 European Union member states, and the company aims to expand its presence in the French market.
Sunbooster’s solution consists of 18.6 cm-high bifacial PV strips that slide into existing fence panels, replacing conventional privacy slats. Each strip has a rated output of 62 W for a 2-meter length or 79 W for a 2.5-meter length, with a reported conversion efficiency of 22.8%. The vertical orientation is designed to shift a portion of electricity generation toward the morning and late afternoon hours.
“We are expanding our presence, particularly in France, where we have already completed our first installation,” Yann Schremmer, Sunbooster’s France manager, told pv magazine. The company has installed a 20-meter section of solar fencing in Aix-en-Provence, with a total capacity of 3.7 kW. The system was supplied by a metalworking company and integrated into the fence of a customer seeking both privacy and electricity generation.
The 2-meter strip is priced at €619 ($692.9( for residential customers, while the 2.5-meter version costs €719. “We have deliberately set very attractive prices for professionals, allowing them to achieve high margins,” said Schremmer. The company plans to focus on building a distribution network comprising PV distributors, major retailers, and fence manufacturers.
The bifacial PV strips use p-type monocrystalline solar cells cut into quarters. Designed for rigid double-wire mesh fences (6/5/6 mm or 8/6/8 mm), the strips are inserted into the mesh and connected using MC4 connectors located on the bottom strip.
According to the manufacturer, the strips have an IP67 protection rating and an operating temperature range of −20 C to 60 C. The maximum system voltage is 50.16 V for the 2-meter version and 63.84 V for the 2.5-meter version.
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