Rebor B.V. combines practical experience in solar energy with technical research, product development and system integration. From the early development of roof-integrated solar systems to BIPV, materials research and complete energy systems, one principle runs throughout our development: bringing individual components together technically to create solutions that can also be implemented successfully in practice.
Part of this development history has been independently documented by organisations including RVO, TNO/SEAC, Topsector Energie, patent publications and technical project partners. This page brings together that research and innovation history.
From practical experience to research and product development
Rebor's development history begins with hands-on experience in solar energy. René Borro has been professionally active in the sector since 2008. Alongside consulting, sales and installation, an important technical question emerged at an early stage: how could solar panels become an integral part of a roof and building envelope rather than simply being mounted on top of a building?
This question led, through several stages of development, to research into integrated solar roofs, prefabricated PV elements, BIPV, mounting technology, building integration and new applications for solar energy.
Read more about the background and development of the company on About Rebor B.V. .
Energiedak 2010: early development of an integrated solar roof
An early documented part of this development history is Energiedak 2010. The concept combined insulation boards with frameless solar panels and was intended for both new-build projects and complete roof renovations. Rather than treating insulation and solar energy as entirely separate building components, they were approached as elements of a single integrated roof concept.
In a publication by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland, RVO) covering new PV systems for the built environment, René Borro is identified in connection with Energiedak 2010 as co-owner of De Solarshop Systeemhuis.
LOCI: research into a prefabricated roof-integrated PV system
The development of integrated PV roofs was further investigated within LOCI — Low Cost Prefab Roof-integrated PV System.
According to the publicly available research documentation, the LOCI project ran from 1 January 2013 until 31 December 2014. The project was carried out by Zonnepanelen Parkstad, Unilin Insulation and SEAC on behalf of RVO.
The project developed a PV insulation element combining roof covering, roof insulation and PV functionality within a single solution. A field test was carried out using the element, and a technical and financial model was developed to investigate its application and market potential.
The TNO publication relating to the project lists R. Borro as a co-author. The technical development surrounding LOCI is therefore also documented independently of Rebor's own communications.
From research to practice: SEAC, SolarBEAT and the first commercial application
Innovation only becomes practically relevant when technical assumptions can also be investigated beyond the drawing board. SEAC (Solar Energy Application Centre) therefore played an important research role within the development of LOCI.
As part of the LOCI project, a demonstration roof was constructed at the SEAC SolarBEAT test facility. The product was investigated there for, among other aspects, its building-physics and electrical characteristics.
The SEAC 2015 annual report also describes how LOCI was applied in a commercial project for the first time that year. This marked a clear transition from research and demonstration to practical application in the built environment.
From research concept to Loci Solar Roof
The knowledge gained through the development of integrated PV roofs was further applied in Loci Solar Roof: a solution in which solar panels become part of the roof surface rather than being installed solely as a separate system above an existing roof covering.
In an integrated solution of this kind, electrical engineering and building engineering come together directly. In addition to electrical performance, factors including water management, ventilation, dimensions, mounting, roof detailing, insulation, cable routing and connections to other building components all play a role.
Technical development documented in a patent
Part of the technical development surrounding integrated PV has also been documented in patent publications.
René Borro is listed as inventor on Dutch patent NL2012450B1, relating to a clamping device for fastening flat components, particularly frameless solar modules. The registered priority date is 17 March 2014, with Zonnepanelenparkstad listed as the original applicant.
The same patent family also includes European publication EP2921800. René Borro is likewise identified as inventor in the public patent database.
De Groene Combi: PV as part of the complete building energy system
The next stage of system integration extended beyond the roof itself. Within De Groene Combi, research investigated how a BIPV roof, roof insulation and an exhaust-air heat pump could function as a combined energy system.
The SEAC 2016 annual report identifies Inventum, Unilin Insulation, Rebor B.V. and SEAC in relation to the project. Within the concept investigated, heat from the air beneath the solar panels was used as a heat source for the exhaust-air heat pump.
The project illustrates a principle that remains relevant to modern hybrid energy systems: system value is not created solely by optimising individual components, but by understanding how energy generation, the building envelope, heat and energy consumption interact.
ASAP: research into anti-soiling and solar panel performance
Not every PV innovation takes place within the solar module or mounting system itself. Contamination of the glass surface can reduce light transmission and consequently affect the electrical output of solar panels.
Within ASAP — Anti-soiling And PV, research was conducted into anti-soiling coatings for PV modules and into combining anti-soiling and anti-reflective properties.
According to the public final report, the project was initiated by TNO, DSM and Rebor B.V.. Rebor and TNO jointly designed and built a field-test installation that enabled coatings to be investigated on solar panels under practical operating conditions.
In addition to laboratory research, selected coatings were monitored over an extended period in a field test. A technical and financial analysis was also carried out to assess the applicability of the coating technology.
BOUW DIT: integrating solar energy into new building components
With BOUW DIT, the focus moved from the roof to other available surfaces within the built environment.
The project focused on an integrated balcony railing incorporating custom-made, semi-transparent and bifacial solar panels. The official Topsector Energie project page identifies Onderneming Balkonhekken, Durin, TNO and Rebor B.V. as members of the project consortium.
The project included the development of solar technology, electronics, product design, manufacturing tools, yield calculations and a prototype for investigation within a living-lab environment.
Solar Magazine described Rebor's role in the project in connection with the development of custom-made transparent solar panels using bifacial monocrystalline solar cells for integration into the railing.
Project and industry publications
From innovation to buildable roof details
Technical innovation only creates value when a solution can also be built, connected and maintained in practice.
A practical example of this has been documented by Ubbink. During the construction of 24 apartments in Bovenkarspel, a solution had to be developed within the Loci solar roof for ventilation and sewer venting without compromising the performance or appearance of the integrated roof.
Ubbink describes how Rebor, Stabo Bouw and Ubbink worked together on the solution. According to the project case, Rebor and Ubbink focused primarily on engineering, while Stabo Bouw assessed the practical feasibility from the construction perspective.
The result was a specially developed dummy panel into which the roof penetration could be integrated. This provides a concrete example of the interaction between PV technology, building engineering and practical construction.
Rebor within the Dutch solar-energy innovation ecosystem
Rebor's involvement in several research and innovation projects is documented in the public Topsector Energie project database.
The Rebor B.V. organisation page links the company to LOCI, De Groene Combi and ASAP and places Rebor within the focus area of multifunctional building components. Topsector Energie states that the information within this project environment originates from RVO.
This externally documented project history shows that Rebor's technical background extends beyond distribution alone. Practical experience, integrated PV, product development, field testing and collaboration with research and construction partners together form part of the company's knowledge base.
From PV innovation to complete energy systems
The technical context of solar energy has become considerably broader. The challenge is no longer limited to how much solar electricity an installation can generate, but increasingly concerns how energy is generated, converted, stored, controlled and used.
Alongside PV, Rebor therefore focuses on energy storage, hybrid energy systems and energy management. System integration remains the central principle: a good energy system is not created simply because every individual component has strong specifications, but because solar panels, inverter, battery, BMS, metering, communications and energy control work together correctly from a technical perspective.
Experience with integrated PV and building-related system development therefore provides a technical foundation for the next generation of energy systems.
The common thread: system integration
Not every research project ultimately becomes a commercial product. The value of research also lies in the knowledge accumulated during development, testing and practical application.
- Practical experience in solar energy
- Integrated PV and BIPV
- Research, field testing and validation
- Product and mounting technology
- Building-related system integration
- Practical projects and engineering
- PV distribution and technical wholesale
- Energy storage and energy management
Technology changes, but the technical principle remains the same: understand how individual components influence one another and use that knowledge to build a reliable, practical and scalable system.
Sources & research documentation
The external publications below support the research, innovation and project history described on this page. Where historical project names or organisations are referenced, the terminology used in the relevant original source is retained.
- Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO). Tien nieuwe PV-systemen voor de gebouwde omgeving. Includes Energiedak 2010 and identifies René Borro in connection with De Solarshop Systeemhuis. View source.
- Topsector Energie / RVO. Public LOCI final report. Documents the LOCI project, project period, participating organisations, field testing and technical-financial analysis. View source.
- TNO. Dakrenovatie met behulp van innovatieve PV-isolatie-elementen. Publication on LOCI listing R. Borro as a co-author. View source.
- TNO Publications / SEAC. SEAC Jaarverslag 2013. Documentation from the LOCI research period. View source.
- TNO Publications / SEAC. SEAC Jaarverslag 2015. Documents, among other developments, the first commercial application of LOCI. View source.
- Loci Solar Roof. LOCI Technical University Eindhoven. English-language project page covering the LOCI project and the SolarBEAT test installation. View project.
- TNO Publications / SEAC. SEAC Jaarverslag 2016. Describes De Groene Combi and the participating project organisations. View source.
- Topsector Energie. Rebor B.V. organisation page with public project links to LOCI, De Groene Combi and ASAP. View source.
- Topsector Energie / RVO. Public final report — Anti-soiling And PV (ASAP). Identifies TNO, Rebor B.V. and DSM as project partners and describes the field-test installation developed by Rebor and TNO. View final report.
- Topsector Energie. Balkonhekken Op UW Dakterras met Integrale Tweezijdige zonnepanelen (BOUW DIT). Project information and consortium details. View source.
- Google Patents. NL2012450B1. René Borro is listed as inventor. View patent.
- Google Patents. EP2921800. European publication within the same patent family. View European publication.
- Ubbink. Samenwerking levert perfecte dakoplossing op. Project case covering Rebor, Stabo Bouw and Ubbink in the engineering of a roof penetration within a Loci solar roof. View project case.
- Solar Magazine. BOUW DIT: eerste transparant dubbelzijdig hek met zonnepanelen voor balkons en dakterrassen. Industry publication covering the innovation project and Rebor's role. View publication.