The development kit (dev kit) is your chance to co-create the future of solar.
This portable micro solar panel can be assembled following an easy instruction manual. It allows you to create your own energy-producing device, while learning about solar technology and its possibilities. Designed following circular design principles with modular components, the dev kit is repairable, customizable, and hackable. Whether you hang it in your window or use it in your campervan, you get to enjoy the benefits of circular solar.
The dev kit has a capacity of 5 Volt at 12 Watts, meaning it can charge your phone, fuel a grow light for your seedlings, or power a portable printer.
Front face:
3mm clear polycarbonate sheet (The Netherlands)
Half cut solar cells:
x-doped monocrystalline silicon (Italy)
Cell bed:
3D printed ABS (The Netherlands)
Cells:
n-doped half-cut monocrystalline silicon IBC (Italy)
Bottom sheet:
3mm clear polycarbonate sheet (The Netherlands)
Frame:
3D printed ABS (the Netherlands)
Backing:
Acrylic (The Netherlands)
The dev kit is designed according to circular design principles, which means that its materials can be easily replaced and recycled. Our unique edge-sealing technique omits the need for industry-standard EVA lamination (the ‘glue’ used in conventional solar panels to sandwich all layers together). This makes it possible and safe to disassemble and reassemble the [dev kit], and to replace and recycle solar cells in case they break. Instead of glass, we’ve used acrylic sheets and recycled plastic for the casing to ensure the dev kit is lightweight yet robust. The solar cells are held together by 3D printed parts. These are included in the set, and CAD files are available for makers who want to modify or repair their dev kit.
We encourage you to customize, hack, and improve the dev kit, and to share your version with others. Our online community fosters a culture of open creativity. Only together can we push the development of sustainable solar. Let’s do it!
Biosphere Solar is a sustainable solar start-up based in The Netherlands. Our mission is to develop the world's most sustainable solar panel, and to establish open-source, circular design standards throughout the solar industry. The dev kit allows us to share our sustainable innovations at low cost, with a wider audience. By purchasing a dev kit, you support us in the creation of sustainable solar panels, while co-creating the solar technology of tomorrow.
