Integrating photovoltaics into building facades without compromising on aesthetics, efficiency or sustainability – this is precisely the challenge at the heart of the PV FACE project. The initiative aims to thoroughly reimagine the relationship between solar energy and the building envelope: away from externally mounted solar panels, towards integrated modules that not only generate energy but also harmonise with the materials, colours and designs of contemporary architecture. 

The project was launched as part of the Fusion Grant initiative and is coordinated by Eurac Research in partnership with STG Lab, the research and development division of GruppoSTG, an Italian company operating in the renewable energy sector. The partners share a common goal: to strengthen the competitiveness of the building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) supply chain in South Tyrol. "The energy transition is closely tied to how photovoltaics are perceived," says Laura Maturi, project lead at Eurac Research. "If photovoltaic technology is considered aesthetically intrusive, its uptake slows down. That is why we are focusing on modules that are both efficient and harmoniously integrated into the building envelope." 

The project unfolded across several phases. Following an analysis of the current state of the art and the range of configuration options for photovoltaic glass, the team began developing and testing new solutions. GruppoSTG supplied material samples and supported activities involving mechanical stress tests. New laminated modules were created by combining different layers and materials, prototypes were produced and extensive testing was carried out, including optical characterisation using spectrophotometers, colorimetric analysis and electrical performance testing with a solar simulator. The results include semi-transparent modules with visible solar cells, alongside coloured solutions based either on conventional ceramic pigments or on the technically more sophisticated and higher-performing interference pigments. 

"Our aim is to achieve the perfect balance between aesthetic quality and energy efficiency, supplying the market with a sophisticated technology that combines energy generation, thermal insulation and solar shading within a single facade element," explains Eleonora Tomasino. The postdoctoral researcher joined Eurac Research’s Institute for Renewable Energy in 2025, supported by Fusion Grant funding, to take part in the PV FACE project. As part of the “Integrated Photovoltaic Systems” team, the energy engineering graduate and doctoral candidate in civil, environmental and mechanical engineering led the modelling, design and characterisation phases in the development of the modules. "I am very grateful to Fusion Grant, as the initiative allowed me to participate in an exciting project within a growth-oriented environment. I enjoy it so much that I will be staying at Eurac Research even after the conclusion of PV FACE," she confirms. 

"This project will benefit not only module manufacturers, but also facade engineers, window manufacturers and construction companies – driving progress towards an increasingly sustainable and efficient construction industry," adds Laura Maturi and concludes: "Fusion Grant is a key initiative for promoting technological innovation, industrial collaboration and the next generation of scientific talent." 

PV FACE is one of ten projects selected for the third edition of Fusion Grant, an initiative of the Stiftung Südtiroler Sparkasse (the South Tyrolean Savings Bank Foundation) in cooperation with NOI Techpark, the South Tyrolean Business Association and the business network Rete Economia-Wirtschaftsnetz. The initiative actively promotes collaboration between South Tyrolean companies and research institutions, and offers researchers under the age of 40 a pathway into practice-oriented projects.