Solbian started with a wager. Giovanni Soldini and Marco Bianucci (the most important Italian navigator and an affirmed physicist) wanted to use solar energy on racing yachts.
It was 2006, and even though photovoltaics had become widespread, solar energy applications on moving vehicles were still in the pioneering stage and unsatisfactory, if the expensive systems on satellites are excluded. Something was missing. The photovoltaic modules used in building construction were too heavy, difficult to apply, with their rigid glass cover, ill-suited to the marine environment and poorly performing due to the inevitable shading on sailing boats. Marco and Giovanni with a common passion for sailing and renewable energy, joined forces and that was the turning point. The idea was actually very simple, to produce lightweight, flexible photovoltaic modules using the fragile monocrystalline silicon solar cells (the most efficient, apart from very expensive products used in space) and overcome shading issues. The first boat to be fitted with Solbian modules was Giovanni Soldini’s Class 40. It had 15 small modules, each with its own charge controller, specifically developed by the University of Salerno as similar products were not available on the market. A concept which would later be called distributed MPPT, the most efficient method for optimizing energy production on moving vehicles, with varying orientation and shading. |
In 2007, Giovanni won the "Transat Jacques Vabre" in the summer and the "Ostar" in the winter, helped by a lighter boat due to the need for less fuel. The future of photovoltaics in yachting became clear.
Solbian then grew, adding industrial resources and individual skills, and through the technological development of both photovoltaic modules and control electronics. Solbian products were not only supplied to racing yachts and the marine industry in general, but also to hundreds of applications in many different fields. From the obvious use on campers and caravans to mountain huts, from tents to humanitarian installations, from the most futuristic architectural applications to solar racing cars, from electric bike charging stations to solar chargers for cellphones and tablets. A broadening range of applications runs hand in hand with technological development, thanks to advances in the fields of polymer chemistry and electronics. |
Many good reasons for choosing Solbian:
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SP SERIESSP75 / SP100
$977 - $1,396 CAD / $699 - $999 USD
SP series is at the the top of the range, thanks to the use of selected SunPower™ monocrystalline silicon cells, reaching a record 23% conversion of sunlight into electricity and with a pleasant appearance thanks to back-contact technology which hides the electrical contacts. SunPower™ cells represent the most advanced available technology on the market, and make the SP Solbian panels the highest-efficiency flexible panels. Flexible, powerful and robust, the panels of the SP series are recommended for all installations where maximum reliability and power are required, and the appearance of these cells is one of the symbols of photovoltaic modules. They can be used in all situations and are a best seller in marine applications. Features High efficiency Light and flexible Great aesthetic Working also in low-ligth conditions Easy installation with LOXX snap fastners, zip, screws, adhesive, metal eyelets SOLBIANFLEX Recommended applications: Nautical, Pleasure and racing boats, Camper, Camping, Electric mobility, Building.
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SXp SERIESSXp96 / SXp128
$670 - $921 CAD / $479 - $659 USD
The polycrystalline solar cells used in the SXp series are electrically connected using ultra-thin copper wires that form a very fine mesh on the cell surface, resulting in thousands of contact points. This alternative to the standard bus-bar method allows a higher module power and increases the energy yield. This technology is optimally suited to flexible modules, due to its intrinsic insensitivity to micro-cracks, that are the most common cause of energy loss in solar modules. Another advantage is a reduced sensitiveness to shading, a quite important issue in marine and mobility applications. The new connection technology, together with the use of high efficiency polycrystalline silicon cells, makes SXp panels especially powerful and reliable.
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FEATURES
Thin wires dense mesh Particularly resistant to shocks Less sensitive to shading Pleasant visual appearance Easy installation with LOXX snap fastners, zip, screws, adhesive, metal eyelets. A solar panel, a charge controller and a battery are the three fundamental building-blocks that are used to exploit the Sun's energy in off-grid installations. The panel converts light into electrical energy, the battery stores the energy and the charge controller optimises the operating point of the panel and charges the battery safely. Even though Solbianflex panels can be used in conventional photovoltaic systems, connected through an inverter to the power grid, Solbian’s strength is in providing solutions offering its innovative flexible panels and a wide range of charge controllers, to satisfy the most varied requirements. Solbian’s technical staff is at the Customer’s service to find the best solution given: the power and energy requirements, the available space, the type of battery (or recommendations on suitable battery types). |
Modern, efficient charge controllers match the output voltage from the module to suit the battery. This means that module size is unimportant when considering the battery voltage. If you need to charge, for example, a 48 V battery but have limited space available for the module, our Technical Staff will suggest the right controller to charge your battery from the module that fits into the available space. Thanks to the electronics, you will be free to customize the photovoltaic system, without being tied to the traditional classifications of photovoltaic modules based on the battery voltage. A freedom that also extends to additional accessories that can make up your installation. If you need extension cords, connectors, blocking diodes, cable glands, meters, wireless devices to control your plant from your mobile phone, or the batteries, just ask. Solbian will always have a solution. The SXp series solar panels uses polycrystalline cells with efficiency greater than 18%. The sophisticated connection technology makes these cells particularly resistant to shocks and less sensitive to shading, mechanical stress and atmospheric agents. High performance at a great price. |
SP AiO SERIES$823 - $1117 CAD / $589 - $799 USD
SP47L All1 / SP47Q All1 / SP72 All1
The polycrystalline solar cells used in the SXp series are electrically connected using ultra-thin copper wires that form a very fine mesh on the cell surface, resulting in thousands of contact points. This alternative to the standard bus-bar method allows a higher module power and increases the energy yield. This technology is optimally suited to flexible modules, due to its intrinsic insensitivity to micro-cracks, that are the most common cause of energy loss in solar modules. Another advantage is a reduced sensitiveness to shading, a quite important issue in marine and mobility applications. The new connection technology, together with the use of high efficiency polycrystalline silicon cells, makes SXp panels especially powerful and reliable.
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