HES-SO is the University of Applied Sciences for Western Switzerland. Its Industrial Systems Institute located in Sion, Valais performs multidisciplinary research and development activities in three domains: development of instruments for energy, health and environmental purposes, renewable energy and smart grid.
Jülich is an interdisciplinary, publicly funded research center with a staff of about 5.000 members working on the areas of health, energy and environment. One of the institutes at Jülich, the IEK5-Photovoltaik, concentrates its work on thin film silicon solar cells and related materials for several decades. Jülich Supercomputing Center JSC operates several high performance supercomputers. Access to on of these supercomputers is provided via Sophia trans national access.
Ingegneria e Ricerca S.p.A (EII) manages for Enel S.p.A all the engineering processes relevant to the design and construction of power plants as well as research studies devoted to requirements of Enel Group and third parties. Enel Ingegneria e Ricerca S.p.A. participates to the Sophia project through its Advanced Solar PV Laboratory one of test site of its Research Area. The PV laboratory is located in Catania and is the Enel site devoted to the analysis, qualification and modeling of PV technologies. The laboratory has a total area of 10 hectares and thanks to its optimal weather conditions and exposure to the sun, allows all year round field evaluations of innovative cells, modules and photovoltaic systems such as combined systems using crystalline silicon cells as high efficiency active devices and multi-junction cells, or thin film photovoltaic systems
DNV GL is a global, leading authority in business and & technical consultancy, testing, inspections & certification, risk management, and verification, along the energy value-chain. The company provides impartial advice and support to the producers, suppliers and end users of electricity, gas and heat, as well as to governmental bodies. It also tests and certifies transmission, distribution, and other energy-related equipment for a wide range of clients. With over 2,300 experts in more than 30 countries around the world, DNV KEMA is committed to driving the global transition toward a safe, reliable, efficient, and clean energy future. The company is headquartered in Arnhem, the Netherlands and is part of the DNV Group.
The National Solar Energy Institute INES is France’s center of reference in the field of solar energy. Based at Savoie Technolac on the shores of Lake Bourget, the institute was set up with the backing of Savoie Départemental Council and Rhône-Alpes Regional Council, and includes research and development teams from the CEA, CNRS, University of Savoie and CSTB.
