COOLBACK Company started as a Low Concentration PV (LCPV) project in the Middle East, in 2011. The project focused on a combination of optics and PV. It was subsequently rolled out via Optixolar BV, a Dutch-based enterprise originally founded by Simon Meijer, the current CEO of COOLBACK Company. Following several years of development in the area of Low Concentration PV (2011-2015), it became evident that standard PV modules were the clear winner in terms of energy costs per kWh. This was due to a massive decline in cell prices.
This change in the market called for serious lateral thinking, and it prompted the management and shareholders of Optixolar BV to re-evaluate their objectives. It was decided to completely abandon the LCPV project and to take a new approach in improving solar energy advancement.
A new project was then developed from the ground up, relying on expertise in PV, thermodynamics, aerodynamics and material science. This was the birth of COOLBACK®.
COOLBACK’s aim was to cool down standard modules and reduce heat losses in a structure that weighs less and with very low cost. These design criteria where the benchmark during a 2-year phase of research and testing.
In 2017, things were ready to roll: patent applications were submitted, production and assembly methods had been established, capacity requirements were complete, and certification testing was in progress.
Extensive outdoor performance testing was done – starting in 2017 – at COOLBACK Company’s test location in Sevilla, Spain. Since early 2019, extensive testing has taken place at the Doha (Qatar) and the Zuidbroek (The Netherlands) testing locations.
COOLBACK Company uses unconventional thinking to find solutions for industrywide problems. Traditional engineering (over-dimensioning) was left behind and rapid prototyping and testing was applied to PV module innovation. Agile innovation is key.
Pioneering for the future is important, as COOLBACK® sets the premise for further innovation in mounting, stacking and tracking. Optimizing PV output at reduced costs calls for lateral thinking and questioning current industry standards and conventions.
COOLBACK Company is owned entirely by renewable energy enthusiasts with a proven track record in business development and expertise in wind and solar energy. The management team is built on senior-level industry knowledge. A diverse and international team is dedicated to pioneering a new approach for clients worldwide.
