Hungarian solar cell pavement for export
As we previously reported, a Hungarian enterprise has started to produce solar collecting pavement blocks from recycled plastic. As of now, even the international press caught attention. Forbes.hu states that the invention made it to the list of New Europe 100, that ranks the most promising startups.
The beginning
Imre Sziszák and József Cseh, founders of the enterprise, attended the University of Debrecen. They are both engineers, Imi is a mechanic while Józsi is a chemical- and electrical engineer. Miklós Illyés, a friend of theirs, is a landscape architect and it was his idea that brought the two boys back to the world of business after they have finished their studies. He found it annoying that every public place got covered with the same ugly and boring concrete paving-blocks. Instead,
Miklós was dreaming about recycled materials producing energy.
He asked Imi and Józsi whether the idea was realistic and the answer was yes. This is how Platio was founded.
Platio-panels
The easiest way to picture the Platio-panels is to think about LEGO pieces. However, they are 34 centimetres wide squares that weigh 8,5 kilos. The recycled plastic base has little modules with which the pieces can be connected. Momentarily, 90 percent of the base is made from recycled material, but the guys aim to improve it to a hundred percent.
“The recycled materials are not just a marketing catch, with them we can also keep the prices low.” – as they said.
According to Miklós, the product can be used in many different ways from phone chargers to pavements or public furniture.
Achievements
The trio has already accomplished four projects out of which two happened to be abroad.
Firstly, they introduced themselves in Kazakhstan with an amazing 80 m2 solar cell pavement. Then, they created a solar pontoon-bridge in Sweden, In Budapest, they got an order from an electric car charging station. Finally, they succeeded in their project with Hellowood at Városház tér, where they built public furniture with built-in solar panels that can charge mobile phones.
Plans for the future
2018 is going to be very busy for these guys. According to their calculations, they are on the right way to triple their income from the previous year. In order to fulfil their orders this year, they needed financial support, and fortunately, they won the EU applications as well.
From Horizon 2020 and GINOP, they receive 70 million forints (230 thousand euros).
They did not want to share any details in connection with their future projects until they are settled, but they gave a hint that they have international and national orders as well.
For more information about solar panel projects in Hungary and the World Solar Challenge in Australia, check out these articles.
Photos: www.facebook.com/pg/platiopavings
Source: forbes.hu