How do you provide sustainable power in locations where the electricity grid is not (sufficiently) available? Folded Solar developed a mobile and modular solar energy system that generates local power via solar panels, a battery, and an Energy Management System (EMS). The system is foldable, quick to install, and can be used in a wide range of locations—from festivals to remote construction or disaster areas.

During the TT Festival, Folded Solar tested whether the system functioned well in combination with local power demand and how user-friendly the installation is. The folding and unfolding process went smoothly within minutes, without any damage. Visitors on the innovation tour and a testing expert were allowed to try it themselves and confirmed the ease of use.

Due to a malfunction of the inverter’s display, only the battery consumption could be measured. This showed that the system generated power during the day and supplied it in the evening to, among other things, catering points on the site. A lack of space at the location (36 meters available, 40 meters needed) made full unfolding impossible, which makes the system less suitable for use in a city center, partly due to logistical challenges with loading and unloading.

Based on the test, Folded Solar is working on a design where panels can be detached to flexibly adapt the system to the available space. They also want to develop an app that allows users to go through a checklist and read out system data, so that reading is no longer dependent on the display. A new test at a more spacious location, with a fully functioning inverter and more panels, is being planned.

In collaboration with: TT Festival Assen and Stichting Goeie Grutten.