The Consortium of participants in the SSP, “SigmaSoles: The Innovation in Concentration Photovoltaics in Spain,” has achieved such a success while carrying out the tasks that this commitment as well as the aim of developing the CPV technology both have led to 4 new SigmaSoles spin-off Projects: The INNPACTO Projects from the 3Q of 2011, supported again by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, with ISFOC as the technical coordinator in three of the four.

The mother Project, SigmaSoles, has been split into 4 new independent INNPACTO Projects: "Sigmamódulos," "Sigmaequipos," "Sigmatrackers," and "Sigmaplantas." Each project is focused on a specific area of interest, sharing several common objectives: to achieve cheaper renewable energy, to optimise the more efficient solar systems, and to obtain a higher yield, through the exchange of know-how and backgrounds among the Institutes and the Companies in the sector.

The Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation has already announced the grantees of those INNPACTO Projects, where €555M in 394 projects has been granted, with €155M devoted to projects focused on the topic of Energy. This support to the projects, where ISFOC plays the role of technical coordinator at its Puertollano Headquarters, is easily apparent if you focus on the high funding obtained, which amounts to up to up to €16.2M for the 4 projects. The Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation will pay out €13.5M, more than 8.5% of the money devoted to Energy projects: €9.3M in loans and €4.1M in subsidies. Highlighted in this is that one of the projects, SigmaMódulos, has obtained the highest subsidies among all the grantees, clearly indicating the strong support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation to renewable energies in general, and to promising CPV technology in particular, where Spain is the leader in its development.

INNPACTO SIGMAMODULOS

The Institute for Concentration Photovoltaics Systems (ISFOC) is the technical coordinator of the INNPACTO Project, "SigmaModulos: The innovation of CPV modules in Spain". This Project has been awarded for three years, having obtained a funding of €1,352,715.98  in subsidies  and €2,697,891.90 in loans for the participating companies. The Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation will support this Project throughout the 2011, 2012, and 2013 years, as the entities located in convergence areas (ISFOC, Isofotón, Abengoa) co-funded by the European Union. It is important to highlight that this INNPACTO Project has received the highest funding in the form of subsidies from all the ones granted for the 2011 annuity.  

The following entities are involved in the SigmaModulos Consortium: Isofotón, which is its leader and general coordinator, Abengoa Solar, ISFOC, the public research organization INTA, and the Polytechnic University of Madrid (Solar Energy Institute and CEDINT).
The SigmaModulos Project’s main goal is to develop high concentration photovoltaic modules, being supported by research and innovative instruments and by technology transfer, with the aim of obtaining a validated, reliable, and easily industrialized product. 

This Project is linked to another INNPACTO Project, called "SigmaPlantas," where the prototypes of the modules developed will be installed to check their performance in the field. This test has proved to be essential in verifying new technologies, following the demo plants installed at ISFOC and taking them as an example. The final target, therefore, is to obtain a system integrating the latest technologies regarding cells, optic systems, and components, which will be fully characterized and validated as well as tested and checked in a demo field, all of which leads to their future manufacturing.

INNPACTO SIGMATRACKERS

The Institute for Concentration Photovoltaics Systems (ISFOC) is the technical coordinator of the INNPACTO Project, "SigmaTracker: The innovation trackers for CPV systems in Spain." This Project has been awarded for three years, having obtained a funding of €737,355.04 in subsidies, €2,635,352.44 in loans for the participant companies, and €417,887.40 in reimbursable FEDER funds. The Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation will support this Project throughout 2011, 2012, and 2013, with the entities located in convergence areas (ISFOC, Isofotón,Abengoa,CTM-CLM Foundation and the University of Castilla-La Mancha) co-funded by the European Union.  

The following entities are involved in the SigmaTrackers Conortium: SENER, which is its leader and general coordinator, Abengoa Solar, Altran, Indra, Isofotón, ISFOC, the Public Research Body INTA, the Technological Centre CENER, the Foundation Corp. Tecnalia, the CTM-CLM foundation, and the University of Castilla-La Mancha.

 Main goal of the SigmaTrackers Project is to develop HCPV trackers, supported by R&D activities and by innovation and technology transfers to obtain a validated and reliable product that is easy to manufacture and affordable.

This Project is integrated into another awarded Project, called "SigmaPlantas," where the installation of prototypes will be held in order to check their performance in the field, a crucial stage in verifying new Technologies, as ISFOC did at its demo plants. The final target, therefore, is to obtain a system integrating the latest technologies regarding cells, optic systems, and components, which will be fully characterized and validated as well as tested and checked in a demo field, all of that leading to their future manufacturing.

INNPACTO SIGMAPLANTAS

The Institute for Concentration Photovoltaics Systems (ISFOC) is the technical coordinator of the INNPACTO Project, "SigmaPlantas": The innovation in plants and modules for CPV systems in Spain." This Project has been awarded for three years, having obtained a funding of € 863,759.68 in subsidies, €2,808,994.20 in loans for the participating companies, and € 669,309.20 in reimbursable FEDER funds. The Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation will support this Project throughout 2011, 2012, and 2013, with the entities located in convergence areas (ISFOC, Isofotón, Abengoa, Ingeteam Service, the University of Castilla-La Mancha, the University of Jaén, and the University of Seville) co-funded by the European Union.

The following entities are involved in the SigmaPlantas Consortium: Abengoa Solar New Technologies, which is leader and general coordinator of it, Altran, Ingeteam Energy, Ingeteam Service, Isofotón, ISFOC, SENER, the Technological Centre CENER, the Polytechnic University of Madrid (Solar Energy Institute), the University of Castilla-La Mancha, the University of Jaén, and the University of Seville.

The main goal of the SigmaPlantas Project is to develop the main set of crucial activities for the HCPV systems that is traditionally forgotten throughout the development cycle of power-producer systems, such as field installation or the study of production. For that reason, studies of HCPV systems improvement will be held, supported by R&D activities and by innovation and technology transfers, so as to obtain more reliable and operative plants, trusted by the markets.

This Project is integrated into two other awarded Projects, called "SigmaMódulos" and "SigmaTrackers." Just as in SigmaPlantas, the systems developed on those and on the former mother Project, "SigmaSoles," and those developed by "SigmaPlantas" will be validated and tested. The installation of the module & tracker prototypes will be assisted in order to check their performance in the field, a crucial stage in verifying new technologies, as ISFOC did at its demo plants. The final target, therefore, is to obtain a system integrating the latest technologies regarding cells, optic systems, and components, which will be fully characterized and validated as well as tested and checked in a demo field, all of that leading to their future manufacturing.

INNPACTO SIGMAEQUIPOS

The Project, "SigmaEquipos: The innovation in equipment for CPV Systems characterisation in Spain," has been established with the leadership of a company from Castilla-La Mancha located at Puertollano, Soldaduras Avanzadas. The consortium is also made up of the Quinta Ingeniería Company and the Polytechnic University of Madrid. The project's mail goal is to develop equipment for the module and concentration cell characterisation, supported by the technology transfers between the University and the research in the sector.