(Archive) Biosphere Solar's Development Kit [Dev Kit]

Modular and Circular

PV is one of the most important renewable energy sources available today. The production of PV modules as well as the installation of these is growing at an exponential rate worldwide. It is projected that in a world fully powered by renewables, PV will provide >65% of the world’s electricity generation. However, despite tremendous product development over the previous decades, PV modules are still immensely difficult to recycle and impossible to repair. Recycling efforts only recover glass and metal parts, while the most precious materials within the solar cells end up on landfills or are crushed and downcycled. The total amount of PV waste is expected to reach 78 million tonnes by 2050.

It is therefore crucial that this 'PV waste' does not become waste, but rather is used as valuable critical materials to reinject into our circular economy. With this in mind, Biosphere Solar has developed a solar panel that is modular and can therefore be taken apart; this leads to circularity by allowing repairs, refurbishment and ease of recycling. The DevKit is an extension of the research done by Biosphere Solar which aims to include individuals in this energy transition.

Open-Source Hardware (OSH)

The mission and vision of Biosphere Solar is a world in which circularity and fairness are norms in the solar industry and market. The work required to accomplish this is greater than any one start-up could do on their own. As such, Biosphere Solar has adopted a disruptive and future-proof mindset to business: we're doing it open-source.

By breaking open the individualistic mindset towards innovation, we aim to enable everyone to contribute to our development and reap its fruits.