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Overview
EGP is a global leader company in the development and management of energy production from renewable sources, with a total installed capacity of 49 GW based on an integrated portfolio composed of wind, solar, hydroelectric and geothermal technologies.
In the pursuit of the goal of 100% renewable generation, solar photovoltaic (PV) energy will be one of the most relevant contributors to the growth of renewables in the next decade, with a foreseen constant increase of installed capacity. However, Enel Green Power strategy also aims at the development and the adoption of innovative solutions able to support the transition towards a more sustainable and efficient way of generating electricity in the long term.
Among others, the efficient design of utility-scale PV plants represents an important pillar of this strategy: utility-scale PV plants require large installation areas, and their efficiency represents a valuable opportunity for optimizing land-use, through the use of advanced technologies, such as bifacial panels, which use both direct and reflected solar radiation to produce electricity. Once the solar radiation hits a surface, it is partially reflected back. The ratio between the amount of reflected solar radiation and the total one is called albedo, ranging from 0 to 1.
In this scenario, EGP would like to enhance the efficiency of bifacial solar panels, using innovative solutions that increase the albedo in the solar farm, improving plant production and optimizing land utilization.
This Challenge provides contribution to the following SDGs:
- SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy (Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all)
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation)
For questions about the challenge and your proposal you can contact EnelOpenInnovabilityChallenges@wazoku.com
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Description
SCENARIO
In a world where renewable energy sources are becoming more and more important, solar power plants are one of the main contributors to green energy. Traditionally, solar PV plants generate electricity only by using the upper side of the panels (monofacial modules), which faces the sun and is therefore directly hit by solar radiation. A better approach in terms of efficiency is to exploit both sides of the panels using bifacial modules, designed to capture the light reflected onto the back side of the panel. This allows the generation of up to 30% more energy as compared to monofacial modules, and the amount of increased production is directly linked to the albedo, the fraction of surface reflected light. To boost efficiency of PV panels, it is vital to maximize the albedo, which depends on various factors, the most significant being the reflectance of the ground, generally achieved through the use of lightly colored terrains. However, the use of optimal grounds is not always possible, and other solutions must be taken into account.
BACKGROUND
Enel Green Power largely adopts bifacial PV panels, in order to optimize production and land use, thus minimizing the impact of its solar farms. The surface area of the bifacial module is 1 meter x 2 meters. During the course of the day, trackers will tilt the panels from 45 to 60 degrees from horizontal to optimize solar energy collection. The typical layout of a PV farm includes rows of approximately 45 solar panels separated by 6-8 meters (see Panels Dimensions and Panels Layouts in the Attachments section). In certain situations, solar power plants are sometimes built on lands where the ground does not have the most favorable characteristics for energy production optimization and some actions need to be taken in order to optimize PV panel efficiency.
THINGS TO AVOID
The bifacial modules may not be modified, however, changes to the support structures may be considered.
Currently, a trial with geomembrane is ongoing to measure the impact on the albedo and on power production. Therefore, geomembranes are specifically excluded as potential solutions.
THE CHALLENGE
Enel Green Power is looking for new tools and techniques aimed at improving the albedo in solar installations. These solutions could be applied at different stages throughout a project’s life cycle, from early design, through the construction of new plants and the operation of existing ones.
The proposals should include technological and non-technological solutions for increasing the ratio of solar light reflected by the ground and the surroundings of the plant, both for land and floating PV plants. Viable solutions must be applicable to plants in different geographical areas, including LATAM, North America, South Europe and APAC, without interfering with plant operation and maintenance activities.
SOLUTION REQUIREMENTS
Submissions should address the following Solution Requirements.
The proposed solutions must:
- Be targeted on improving ground reflectance and, in particular, focused on increasing solar light ratio impacting the back-side of the panel;
- Not interfere with the plant operations and maintenance activities;
- Be applicable in climate/geographical zones of countries where EGP has its solar power plant in operations (such as LATAM; North America; South Europe; APAC);
- Have low installation and maintenance costs:
- Total cost of material and installation approximately 1 (one) USD per square meter. Different cost could be accepted in case of higher energy production increase;
- Maintenance as close to zero as possible;
- Be characterized by easy, low frequency maintenance (less than once a year);
- Be based on sustainable principles, guaranteeing a circular approach through the use and/or reuse of materials with a low environmental and ecological footprint.
Moreover, the solution should also be applicable to floating PV plants.
PROJECT DELIVERABLES
The submitted proposal should at least include the following documentation:
- A general description and explanation of a solution that can meet the above Solution Requirements, including a cost and benefits estimation;
- Evaluation of the impact also in terms of circular economy goals, if any;
- Identification of the impact in terms of sustainability, of any potential risks or eventual constraints, if any;
- Data, case studies, patents and journal references or any additional material that supports the proposed solution.
The proposal should not include any personal identifying information (name, username, company, address, phone, email, personal website, resume, etc.) or any information the Solvers may consider as their Intellectual Property they do not want to share.
Challenge rules
All proposers are invited to read carefully the Challenge and the Regulation of this Challenge, attached below in the Attachments section, before submitting a solution.
By submitting a solution they automatically accept the attached Regulations other than the Terms of Use of this platform.
Eligibility
The employees of Enel Green Power and of the other Companies of the Enel Group who are involved in the organization and management of the Competition or admitted to the Open Innovability Portal back office, as well as their spouses or partners and their relatives up to the fourth degree, are not eligible for participation in this Challenge.
Also, employees of the companies of the Enel Group who have worked in the technical sector or work, in the moment of the challenge, on albedo improvement in solar PV plants, or their spouses, partners or any of their relatives up to the fourth grade determined according to Italian law are not eligible for the participation in this Challenge.
Without prejudice to the article 5.5 of the Terms of Use, the obligation to grant the IP rights set in this article does not apply if the winning solution is proposed by an employee of an Enel company, unless the employee is the owner of the solution according to the relevant national law.
Explain your proposal clearly in English, attach documents (max 5 files, 25MB total size) if needed.
Challenge, award, IP rights
This is an Ideation Challenge, which has the following unique features:
- There is a guaranteed award. The awards will be paid to the best submission(s) as solely determined by the Seeker. The total payout will be $20,000. In case of multiple awarded solutions [maximum seven (7)], there will be at least one submission receiving an award no smaller than $5,000, while the others won’t be smaller than $2,500.
- The Solvers are not required to transfer exclusive intellectual property rights to the Seeker. Rather, by submitting a proposal, the Solver grants to the Seeker a royalty-free, perpetual, and non-exclusive license to use any information included in this proposal, including for promotional purposes.
Deadline
Submissions to this Challenge must be received by 11:59 PM (Central European Time) on April 3, 2022.
Late submissions will not be considered.
Specific regulation in the CSA attached at the bottom of this page.
Regulation
What happens next?
After the Challenge deadline, the Seeker will complete the review process and make a decision with regards to the Winning Solution(s). All Solvers that submit a proposal will be notified on the status of their submissions; furthermore, Solvers will only receive a high level evaluation from the Seeker.
Enel will evaluate the proposal using the following criteria:
- Overall scientific and technical feasibility of the proposed solution;
- Economic potential of concept (e.g. Total Cost of Ownership);
- Business potential for Enel;
- Novelty and creativity;
- Potential for proprietary position (i.e., is the technology novel or protectable);
- User's capabilities and related experience;
- Realism of the proposed solution;
- Maturity level of the proposal.
In case the reward includes "Collaboration with Enel", once suitable solution/s have been identified, Enel will reserve the opportunity to start a collaboration, by way of example, all or part of the following activities:
- Test execution;
- Supply of prototypes (if an equipment);
- Installation and site tests;
- Follow up and monitoring of the proposed idea behavior.
Upon completion of the evaluation, you will receive feedback.
In case of success, an Enel contact person will get in touch with you to discuss the next steps.
The final award for this Challenge is contingent upon satisfactory completion of the verification process, including acceptance of the Challenge-Specific Agreement (CSA) that is the regulation for this Challenge.
The verification process includes obtaining the following from the Solver: signed affidavit (based on the CSA), employee waiver (if applicable), proof of identify, and Counterparty Analysis Questionnaire.
ABOUT INNOCENTIVE
InnoCentive collaborates with Enel to manage this Challenge.
InnoCentive is the global innovation marketplace where creative minds solve some of the world's most important problems for cash awards up to $1 million. Commercial, governmental and humanitarian organizations engage with InnoCentive to solve problems that can impact humankind in areas ranging from the environment to medical advancements.
ABOUT THE SEEKER
Enel is a multinational energy company and one of the world’s leading integrated electricity and gas operators. Enel works in more than 30 countries across five continents, generating energy with a total installed capacity of more than 89 GW, selling gas and distributing electricity across a network spanning approximately 2.2 million km.
With almost 75 million end users around the world, Enel has the biggest customer base among our European competitors, and we are one of Europe’s leading energy companies by installed capacity.
The Enel Group is made up of approximately 66,000 people from around the world who are working together on the same goal. We are Open Power and our aim is to overcome some of the greatest challenges facing the world. This is to be achieved through a new approach which combines attention to sustainability with the best in innovation.
Enel is dedicated to creating innovative solutions that meet society’s changing needs. Through its openinnovability.com crowdsourcing platform, the company connects people and ideas from across the world, encouraging anyone to propose sustainable innovation projects and solutions that help develop local communities.
Enel is also committed to helping to achieve 4 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
7 - Access to affordable and clean energy
9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
11- Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
13 - The fight against climate change
Enel Green Power is the Enel Group brand focused on developing and managing renewable energy generation systems with a global presence in 27 countries in Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa and Oceania. Enel Green Power is a global leader in the green energy sector, operating more than 1,200 plants with a managed capacity of 54 GW across a generation mix which includes wind, solar, geothermal and hydropower, and is at the forefront of integrating innovative technologies into renewable power plants. Enel Green Power is a strategic partner that enables communities, companies and end users to move towards sustainable living, driving the shift towards a decarbonized society and actively contributing to the development and wellbeing of the many geographical areas where it operates.
Enel Green Power applies the CSV (Creating Shared Value) model, finding new business opportunities by solving social problems, combining competitiveness with long-term sustainable value creation. Thanks to its research, technological innovation, internationally renowned operational excellence, and the hard work of its people, Enel Green Power looks to the future fully aware of its potential for growth, both in terms of additional capacity and operational performance.
Enel Green Power invests in new technologies to improve its flexibility and performance, such as the combination of technologies and sources in the same plant (hybridization), the integration between renewables with other sectors (agrivoltaics, green building, new materials etc.) and research to give plants’ components a new role once they reach the end-of-life stage. All these projects are conducted under the lens of Sustainability and the Circular Economy.
With its international experience, Enel Green Power also develops custom projects to offer companies the best solutions when it comes to energy generated from renewable sources. Clean energy and sustainable projects, competitive costs and tailor-made solutions are the main benefits of the Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), tools that are capable of building strong, long-lasting partnerships with business and industrial clients.
Enel Green Power is also one of the founding members of RES4Africa Foundation, the association founded in 2012 to promote renewable energy and the spread of know-how on the African continent.
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