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ALFAMA Advanced Lightweight and Flexible Array with Mechanical Architecture

More solar cells per unit of volume are needed in stowed configuration, and flexible solar arrays are the only answer for this high-power challenge.

In this context, ALFAMA project brings answers for the mass, cost & power challenge, with ambitions at each level of the solar array:
- The mechanical architecture, with a modular & retractable deployment system
- The photovoltaic assembly fabrication process, with printed harness & lamination for easier integration, manufacturing and high voltage protection
- The PVA structure, with thin flexible layers for high power/mass & power/volume ratio, adapted to epitaxial lift-off
- The solar cells, with the development of highly efficient & lightweight III-V IMM lift-off cells

ALFAMA's drastic improvements will enhance the EU space sector competitiveness, enable new missions and build synergies between space and non-space activities.

1/ Power/mass ratio increased by ≥ 50% with III-V lift-off solar cells
2/ Cost reduction with high throughput assembly process
3/ Power density increased more than 4 times with compact stowed configuration
4/ Relevant roadmaps for space & non-space applications

partners / contact

AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE NETHERLANDS BV

[ AIRBUS DS NL ]

Netherlands

Paul Zevenbergen

Paul Zevenbergen

AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE FRANCE SAS

[ AIRBUS DS FR ]

France

Dominique Vergnet

Dominique Vergnet

AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE GMBH

[ AIRBUS DS DE ]

Germany

Claus Zimmermann

Claus Zimmermann

Senior Expert Photovoltaic Power Systems

COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES

[ CEA ]

Romain Cariou

Romain Cariou

Research Scientist, Project Manager

FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.

[ Fraunhofer ]

Germany

David Lackner

David Lackner

Epitaxy and Development of Multi-Junction Solar Cells

AZUR SPACE SOLAR POWER GMBH

[ AZUR SPACE ]

Germany

Victor Khorenko

Victor Khorenko

Manager Business Development R&D Projects

TF2 DEVICES B.V.

[ TF2 ]

Netherlands

Gunther Bissels

Gunther Bissels

Scientific researcher Project manager

ABSISKEY

[ ABSISKEY ]

France

Olivier DE BARDONNECHE

Olivier DE BARDONNECHE

Project Manager

This project have received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 821876. This publication (communication) reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be helded responsible for any use whic may be of the information contained therein.

maps_photo.jpg

graph - chart

Start 01/11/2018
85% 12/04/2026
End 31/10/2021
Budget allocation . M€ Budget allocation
Effort 242 p*m Effort
Effort 4 persons Full time equivalent

news

Video - what is Alfama?

2022-04-01

The Alfama project is now over. For this reason, we want to thank everyone very much for being with us throughout the duration...

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ALFAMA consortium meeting and another milesto...

2021-10-27

The ALFAMA project is coming to an end. Today, one of the last meetings for the entire project consortium took place. The...

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1 st SPECIAL PV Workshop - Space Photovoltaic...

2021-10-22

If you are interested in Space Photovoltaics to convert energy in the extraterrestrial environment, we would like to invite...

View more

SpaceHUB - satellite innovations

2021-07-28

On June 24, 2021, the monthly SPACEHUB event organized by ABSISKEY POLSKA took place. The event was attended by Paul...

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SPECIAL workshop (Space Pv for Energy Convers...

2021-07-27

We invite you to a free, two-day 1st Special workshop ((Space Pv for Energy Conversion in extra-terrestrIAL environment)...

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EU PVSEC 2021- Event Programme

2021-07-22

The EU PVSEC 2021 website has a detailed plan of the event. You can find it at:  View more

EU PVSEC 2021- Poster and Presentation

2021-05-12

Good news!

 

EU-PVSEC approved two speeches coordinated by partners from our project:

1. Poster - "Large size flexible and...

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EU PVSEC 2021 goes online

2021-05-06

In 4 months, the 38th edition of the European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition will take place.

On September...

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ESA Power Workshop 2021

2021-02-09

On February 9-11, ESA Power Workshop 2021 was held, attended by members of the ALFAMA project. They gave presentations under...

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Sunstone material used for welding test

2020-10-14

Here you can see the use of the Sunstone device for testing the welding of a metal tape on a printed track. 

This machine...

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ALFAMA at 37th EU PVSEC (2020)

2020-09-30

On September, 2020, it was the opportunity to speak about the Alfama project at the EU PVSEC Conference. The CEA, one of the...

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ALFAMA will attend 37th EU PVSEC Conference

2020-09-01

ALFAMA will be present to the 37th EU PVSEC Conference. The CEA, which is one of the project partners will present their work...

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Press release about Alfama project

2020-07-30

We invite you to discover this press release, published by the National Institute of Solar Energy highlighting Flexible...

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ALFAMA Advisory Board Meeting is coming !

2020-02-26

The first Advisory Board Meeting of the ALFAMA project will take place in Leiden (Netherlands) on 10 March at the premises of...

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Follow ALFAMA project on Twitter !

2020-02-12

Alfama is also on Twitter, if you have an account do not hesitate to follow us on this social network!

Click on this link:  View more

First step achieved!

2020-01-28

The first period of the ALFAMA project has been successfully completed, this first period coincided with the first year of the...

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ALFAMA project wishes you a happy new year 2020!

2020-01-03

It’s been an intense and productive year with ALFAMA. In 2019 we participated in 4 workshops, distributed more than 200...

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Watch our video: Learn more about the ALFAMA ...

2019-12-11

If you want to understand the stakes of the Alfama project in less than a minute, watch this short video:

>>

 

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100 followers in the ALFAMA LinkedIn!

2019-11-20

ALFAMA's LinkedIn to exceed the 100 followers mark, thank you!

To follow Alfama's news on LinkedIn, click...

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ALFAMA's partners: P8 ABSISKEY

2019-11-13

ABSISKEY is an SME specialized in innovation management, it supports innovative project leaders throughout the project cycle,...

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ALFAMA project will be present at the Space T...

2019-11-06

ALFAMA project will be present at the Europe largest B2B space event: Space Tech Expo from 19-21 November, in Bremen,...

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Learn more about the ALFAMA work structure: W...

2019-10-31

OBJECTIVE

WP6 aims to disseminate the knowledge arising from the scientific and technical achievements of ALFAMA activities,...

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ALFAMA was present at the 12th ESPC!

2019-10-23

Last week was the 12th European Space Power Conference.


Part of the Alfama project team was present, the opportunity to post...

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Learn more about the ALFAMA work structure: W...

2019-10-17

OBJECTIVES

In this work package, will be realized the final flexible solar array breadboards of ALFAMA project. 

This work...

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2nd F2F meeting for the ALFAMA project

2019-10-02

The ALAFAMA project, held its 2nd project meeting in Chambery last week. This was the occasion to present the advancement of...

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ALFAMA initiative flyer & poster now available!

2019-09-20

The ALFAMA initiative has just released its flyer & poster!

Discover them here : 

- Click here for the flyer

- Click here for the...

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ALFAMA's partners: P1 AIRBUS DS NL

2019-09-04

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

AIRBUS Defence and Space Netherlands, expert in pioneering space technology, is a supplier of high quality...

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Learn more about the ALFAMA work structure: W...

2019-08-26

OBJECTIVES

This WP4 aim at developing an innovative mechanical architecture for the deployment of the flexible PVA, with the...

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ALFAMA's partners: P3 AIRBUS DS DE

2019-08-14

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

AIRBUS Defence and Space DE has a complete capability in all fields of satellite systems engineering,...

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ALFAMA's partners: P4 CEA

2019-07-31

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The CEA is the French Commission dedicated to Atomic & Alternative Energies, and is a technology research...

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Learn more about the ALFAMA work structure: W...

2019-07-18

OBJECTIVES

In this work package, processes for flexible solar photovoltaic assembly are developed and optimized, and...

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ALFAMA is at IEEE PVSC: 1st poster!

2019-06-21

The ALFAMA project was presented at the IEEE PVSC conference in Chicago. Represented by P2 AIRBUS DS FR, the project first...

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ALFAMA's partners: P7 TF2 DEVICES

2019-06-07

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

TF2 is a joint venture company established in December 2009 between Radboud University Nijmegen (RU) and...

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ALFAMA's partners: P6 AZUR SPACE POWER GMBH

2019-05-27

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

AZUR SPACE Solar Power GmbH is a global leader in development and production of high efficiency solar cells...

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IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference -PVS...

2019-05-17

The abstract we submitted was selected!

Represented by P2 AIRBUS DS FR, the ALFAMA project first developments will be presented...

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ALFAMA's partners: P5 FRAUNHOFER ISE

2019-05-13

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy (ISE) is the largest R&D institute in Europe devoted to solar...

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Learn more about the ALFAMA work structure: W...

2019-05-03

OBJECTIVES

In this work package, thin film solar cells will be developed and fabricated for subsequent integration into the...

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ALFAMA's partners: P2 AIRBUS DS France

2019-04-22

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

AIRBUS Defence & Space is Europe N°1 defence ans space company.

Composed of 4 business lines -Military...

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Learn more about the ALFAMA work structure: W...

2019-04-15

OBJECTIVES

The goal of this work-package is to define ALFAMA's target specifications for the solar cells, the photovoltaic...

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Discover the ALFAMA project structure

2019-04-08

The ALFAMA project is organised in 8 work packages:

- WP1 Flexible solar array specifications & system analysis

- WP2...

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ALFAMA Website & Social Media Opened

2019-03-08

We are happy to annouce that the ALFAMA website has been launched! This will provide information on the project objectives,...

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Discover what lies behind the logo and the vi...

2019-02-28

=> Photovoltaics cells coming out the sun, evoking space, whith curved shape showing its flexibility

=> The orange color remind...

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ALFAMA Kick-off Meeting 21 November 2018

2018-11-21

The kick-off meeting took place in Brussels on the 21st of November 2018, with all partners and the Project Officer from The...

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The ALFAMA project is launched!

2018-11-01

The ALFAMA project has been launched on the 1st of November 2018. The project will last 3 years until the 31st of October...

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events

2021-10-27

ALFAMA Consortium Meeting

The ALFAMA project is coming to an end. 

One of the last meetings for the entire project consortium will take place on October 27th. The partners discussed the results achieved during the ALFAMA project. The meeting was held in Liden, the Netherlands.

2021-09-06

38TH EU PVSEC 2021 (EUROPEAN PV SOLAR ENERGY CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION)

Once again, the Alfama project consortium will participate in the annual EU PVSEC conference.

It is the largest international Conference for Photovoltaic research, technologies and applications, and at the same time a top international PV Industry Exhibitions. It gathers the global PV community to conduct business, to network and to present and discuss the latest developments and innovations in Photovoltaics. It is the world renowned science-to-science, business-to-business and science-to-industry platform with a full and only focus on the global PV Solar sector. 

06 - 10 Sept 2021 (online)

https://www.photovoltaic-conference.com/

2021-02-09

ESA Power Workshop 2021

ESA Power Workshop is an annual event that brings together members involved in the development of the space industry sector in Europe.

The event will take the form of a webinar and with the support of the CNES.

The main topics that will be discussed are:

  • Solar Generators Session: Innovative concepts for SA design, manufacturing and testing.

  • Power Management Session: Can FMECA ease the combined use of COTS and Hi-Rel components?  

The next event is scheduled for autumn 2022.

See =>  https://indico.esa.int/event/363/

 

2020-09-07

37th EU PVSEC 2020 (European PV Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition)

The EU PVSEC is the largest international Conference for Photovoltaic research, technologies and applications and at the same time a PV Industry Exhibition, where specialized PV Industry presents technologies, innovations and new concepts in the upstream PV sector. It gathers the global PV community to present and discuss the latest developments in Photovoltaics, to network and to conduct business. It is the world-renowned science-to-science and science-to-industry platform uniquely focused on the global PV Solar sector. The conference scientific programme is coordinated by the European Commission Joint Research Centre.

Online Conference, 7 - 11 September 2020

https://www.photovoltaic-conference.com/

2019-11-19

Space Tech Expo

Space Tech Expo Europe is the continent's major dedicated supply-chain and engineering event for manufacturing, design, test and engineering services for spacecraft, subsystems and space-qualified components. The exhibition and conference draw attendance from thousands of industry leaders, decision-makers, engineers, specifiers and buyers to meet manufacturers across the supply chain for civil, military and commercial space.

Alfama project will be present at the stand 5018 of Tf2 devices.

Bremen, Germany, 19-21 November

http://www.spacetechexpo.eu/

2019-10-21

70TH INTERNATIONAL ASTRONAUTICAL CONGRESS

AC 2019  offer a rich programme of Plenaries, Highlight Lectures, Technical lectures as well as a Global Networking Forum and many social events abundant in networking opportunities.

Today the broader space community stands at a pivotal juncture in the course of future human space exploration. To succeed we must come together to create a unified vision that can be realized through the effective use of our collective assets and resources. It is in that spirit of collaboration that we would host the global space community in Washington, D.C., to envision what the next “giant leap” will be.

Washignton D.C., US, Nov 21-25 2019

https://www.iac2019.org/

 

2019-09-30

12th European Space Power Conference (ESPC)

The European Space Power Conference traditionally gathers space power specialists from many countries.

The 12th European Space Power Conference is organised by the European Space Agency (ESA) with the support of Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES), Airbus Defense and Space, Prototech AS a NORCE Company, University of Valencia and Thales Alenia Space.

The conference will address topics in the fields of: Power Generation; Energy Storage; Power Management and Distribution; Components and IC Technologies for Power Applications.

Juan les Pins, France, Oct 30- Nov 4 2019

https://atpi.eventsair.com/QuickEventWebsitePortal/19a03---european-space-power-conference/home

2019-06-16

46th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC 46)

The ALFAMA project will be there: come to meet us!

WELCOME TO THE 46TH IEEE PVSC

https://www.ieee-pvsc.org/PVSC46/

The IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC) is proud to host the 46th PVSC June 16-21, 2019 at the Sheraton Grand in Chicago, Illinois.

The PVSCs have a rich tradition of bringing together students, innovators, researchers and PV leaders in a vibrant and highly integrative forum to share information, gain knowledge, strengthen collaborations and move forward photovoltaic science and technology from basic and applied research into large scale manufacturing and deployments.

This year’s technical program encompasses 12 abstract submission areas that cover the entire spectrum of technical activities in photovoltaic science and engineering and is expected to provide a unique opportunity to share and discuss the latest PV-related developments from around the world.

In addition to an exceptional Technical Program, the 46th PVSC will include an exciting Tutorial Program, taught by world’s leading PV specialists, and a High School Solar Projects competition, giving PV researchers the opportunity to interact with the next generation of researchers.

The conference Exhibition will showcase the latest developments in PV characterization and manufacturing equipment, and is set to further enhance attendee awareness on latest tools and instrumentation as well as to facilitate exchange between scientists, technical experts and exhibitors.

documents

ALFAMA - 37th EU PVSEC (2020) - CEA Presentation

Flyer ALFAMA

POSTER 2019_IEEE PVSC

Poster ALFAMA

Press Release - " Flexible photovoltaic panels for high power space applications " - published by the National Institute of Solar Energy

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