Get to know one of the 10 Academic Startup Competition winners 2020! Lusoco: a short introduction
The Association of Universities in the Netherlands, the Netherlands Academy of Technology and Innovation, and Techleap.nl have nominated 20 academic startups from 57 contenders to compete in the finals of the second edition of the Academic Startup Competition. The jury has now selected the best 10 startups: the winners of the ASC 2020! Among the winners is Lusoco, a company that produces glass that harvests energy during the day and emits light at night.
The level of the competitors was very high this year, and the most ground-breaking and innovative academic startups were selected to be the ‘Best academic startup in the Netherlands’. These startups are responsible for state-of-the-art and ground-breaking innovations in various fields, including Life Sciences, Health, High Tech, Energy, Logistics and Agri-Food. Lusoco is one of the winners in the High Tech field.
The company, part of University of Technology Eindhoven, focuses on a revolutionary new approach in the signage and built environment market for a brighter and more colorful future. Using fluorescent dyes to absorb sunlight and light guiding this towards edge-attached solar cells is the key of their technology.
Luminescent solar concentrator technology
The working principle of the device is based on luminescent solar concentrator technology. A high refractive index material (glass, polymers) is used as a waveguide to concentrate light. The fluorescent ink is printed on glass or interlayers, that guides and concentrates light to the side edges of the glass. This results in a highly visible print that is capable of energy harvesting, combined with signage applications and decoration.
At the side edges of the printed glass panel, solar cell strips are applied that allow energy harvesting of the concentrated edge emitting light. Flexible thin film solar cells are used for this that are integrated in the frame of the construction and store this in an integrated battery. Alongside the energy harvesting, our coating is also used to emit light during the night, by reversing the principle with edge applied illumination, opening new opportunities to combine energy harvesting with visualization.
A brighter and more sustainable future with energy harvesting glass
Lusoco is founded by Teun Wagenaar and Jeroen ter Schiphorst. They have a passion to introduce new technology into the market and are looking forward to create a brighter and more sustainable future with energy harvesting glass. They believe that energy harvesting needs no compromise in aesthetics. Printing glass to create stunning designs that harvest daylight and shine at night is where they want to excel. Being one of the winners of the ASC 2020, they are confident that they are able to achieve just that.
Great to have you onboard Lusoco!