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Project of the month: EAFRD supports innovative solar roof tile technology in Hungary
A pioneering rural business from Hungary has used EAFRD assistance to help enlarge its manufacturing facilities for a novel line of renewable energy products, which will help to mitigate the effects of global warming and assist rural areas gain positive benefits from climate change adaptation.
Climate change is an issue that affects all rural areas throughout Europe. Its importance is reflected in the amendments that were made to EU rural development policy, following the Health Check of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). These amendments resulted in significant sums of additional RDP funds being made available to help rural areas mitigate climate change causes and also adapt to changing weather patterns.
Reducing the dependence of rural areas on fossil fuels was highlighted by the CAP Health Check as a crucial climate change challenge, and €275 million of extra funding was allocated for Rural Development Programme (RDP) renewable energy projects. Henceforth, all RDPs are, increasingly encouraging rural areas to use, produce or supply energy from renewable sources. RDP projects in this sector range from biofuel farm products to energy- efficient construction materials. A particularly interesting example of the latter can be seen in Hungary, where RDP business development support has been used to supply an escalating demand for photovoltaic roof tiles.
Green Roofing Products
The mastermind behind this new range of innovative rural products is Miklós Tóth from Harsány in northern Hungary. His solar roof tile technology combines all the structure and functions of a traditional roof tile with a state-of-the-art photovoltaic unit. He explains, “In this way a new market segment has been created which is quite unique worldwide and provides a good alternative to existing solutions.”
This highly simplistic, but extremely effective business idea embodies the type of innovative thinking on which, RDP assistance can help rural entrepreneurs to capitalise. Mr Tóth’s solar roof tile product range offers the potential to radically revolutionise the photovoltaic market and he notes that “it is a giant challenge to satisfy the demands of the market”. As such, his ‘Ideas Solar’ company was awarded nearly €165,000 of EAFRD support to co-finance the construction of new factory facilities, so as to increase the manufacturing capacity for the roof tiles. These RDP business development funds ensure the solar tiles can now be produced in a host of different shapes, sizes and colours.
Eco-friendly roofing
Demand continues to increase as more people become aware of the practical advantages and full potential of these eco-friendly roofing products. They are designed to comply with technical and architectural regulations, are easy to install and the potential for expansion is unlimited.
Stand-alone photovoltaic systems are built into each tile so there is no requirement for separate electrical cabling or connection. This approach can reduce roof weight loads by as much as one third and makes the product highly adaptable, allowing for the tiles to be used on all types of roofs, including historical buildings protected for their heritage value.
Other advantages from the RDP-funded roof tile technology include increased energy efficiency compared with conventional solar roof modules, as only four tiles are required to operate a domestic computer. Eight tiles can run a refrigerator and all the power needs of an average family house, including the electricity network and the heating system can be supplied from a roof containing between 300-500 tiles (approximately 20-50 m²).
Business Confidence
Business confidence is booming in ‘Ideas Solar’ following the opening of the new manufacturing premises and Mr. Tóth is now looking forward to introducing new business innovations. “In the near future, we are going to launch complementary options like integrated defrosting control units.” These roof defrosting technologies are expected to find market niches in mountain or snowy regions throughout Europe and beyond.
Successful rural businesses like this example from Hungary also help to build community confidence in rural areas, especially in times of recession, and the RDP investments that were secured by ‘Ideas Solar’ provide a lift for local communities in the area where the new factory development has helped to create new jobs.
Benefits from this RDP-funded rural product development project will of course potentially be far more widespread, not only because the solar roof tile offers a new solution for mitigating climate change impacts, but also because the tiles provide many rural areas with an opportunity to adapt to drier hotter conditions in a manner that simultaneously helps them reduce fuel bills and strengthen energy self-sufficiency.
Further information about the photovoltaic roof tiles is available on-line at www.ideassolar.hu and advice about grant funding from the Hungarian RDP is provided by Hungary’s National Rural Network.
