Source | Levante

Levante (Milan, Italy), a green-tech startup and design and engineering studio, is attending JEC World for the first time, representing Italian innovation with other startups in the Italian Pavilion. The company is presenting what it contends is the world’s first solar panels made with recycled carbon fiber (rCF).

ReCarbon (Busto Arsizio, Italy) is the exclusive supplier of Levante’s rCF and Solbian (Avigliana, Italy) supports Levante with its expertise in photovoltaic applications. The collaborative effort blends quality craftsmanship and Italian motorsport engineering expertise, enabling solar energy to seamlessly integrate into mobility applications while redefining solar aesthetics.

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Levante’s semi-rigid, framless and glass-free solar panels are tailored for mobility and outdoor applications. The rCF protects the solar cells, Levante reports, combining the performance of a rigid, durable panel in a portable format, offering a 60% lower carbon footprint than traditional panels, and panels that are 40% lighter than other semi-rigid options. They have been developed and tested with outdoor expert Sailing Uma. Panels are available in three formats, small (13 W), medium (55 W) and large (110 W).

Levante’s reduced carbon footprint was confirmed by a life cycle analysis conducted by HFT Stuttgart University, which showed a 60% reduction in CO₂ emissions compared to traditional panels (from 18.5 kg CO₂-equivalent per square meter to 7.4 kg/m²).

The company also emphasizes the importance of light weight. “In off-grid applications, having a lightweight panel makes all the difference,” says Levante. “It is easier to transport, install and use, making it versatile and ideal for mobility sectors like automotive, yachting and small mobility, as well as off-grid, emergency and outdoor applications.”

In addition to solar panels, Levante is unveiling an integrated carbon fiber solar technology that it is developing with partner Advanced Composites Solutions Srl (Tortoreto, Italy). The photovoltaic innovation reportedly achieved solar panels that are up to 80% lighter and thinner, with A-class surface quality.

Visit Levante at Booth M46, Hall 5.