From industrial product development to solar energy, BIPV and complete energy systems.
Rebor B.V. is a technical wholesaler and trading partner for solar panels, inverters, energy storage and related energy systems.
The technical expertise behind Rebor has been built in part on the experience of director René Borro. His background combines industrial engineering, international product development, practical PV installation experience, integrated solar energy and applied research.
For Rebor, the practical value of this experience is particularly important: assessing technical products as part of a complete system, with compatibility, reliability and practical applicability at the centre.
Technical background: from industry to energy
René Borro's technical career began in 1984 in the automotive industry.
Over more than two decades, his work developed from production and industrial automation to manufacturing engineering, international product development, industrialisation and production management.
During this period, he gained experience in prototype development, production preparation, quality control and the transition from technical development to reliable series production.
From 2007/2008 onwards, his field of work shifted towards solar energy. His initial activities included consulting, system design, product selection, installation and project support for photovoltaic systems.
This combination of industrial experience and practical PV installation experience forms an important foundation for Rebor's technical approach.
From Energiedak 2010 to Loci
A documented step in the development of integrated solar energy was Energiedak 2010.
Within this concept, solar panels, insulation and the roof function were combined. René Borro is personally mentioned as an involved entrepreneur in a publication by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
This development direction formed a basis for the later Loci solar roof.
Loci was further developed as part of a research and development programme involving, among others, SEAC and Unilin Insulation. The LOCI project is documented by RVO, Topsector Energie and TNO.
The development focused not only on electrical performance, but also on construction, insulation, watertightness, prefabrication, installation and the practical applicability of integrated PV systems.
The technical philosophy behind Loci reflects an important principle at Rebor: a good component must also be capable of becoming part of a reliable and practically implementable system.
More about this development can be found on the website of Loci Zonnepanelendak and on our Research & Innovation page.
Documented technical product development
During the development of integrated PV solutions, René Borro worked on mounting technology for frameless solar panels.
He is registered as an inventor on patent NL2012450B1, with a priority date of 17 March 2014.
The patent concerns a mounting solution for flat components, in particular frameless solar panels on pitched roofs.
This is a concrete example of technical product development originating from a practical installation challenge.
Rebor's involvement in innovation is not limited to Loci. Rebor is also documented as a project participant in other research projects involving photovoltaics and multifunctional building components.
These include research into anti-soiling technology for solar panels and new applications of integrated photovoltaics.
Technical practice and professional expertise
The technical expertise within Rebor is not based solely on product development or trading activities.
René Borro has experience in PV system design, installation practice and technical responsibility for photovoltaic systems.
This practical experience has been supported by technical training in photovoltaics, inverter technology, monitoring and inspection.
Historical registration records also document his role as technical manager for recognised PV activities, both during earlier solar activities and later at Rebor B.V.
Additional manufacturer training has also been completed in the field of energy storage.
This background supports the assessment of technical products from an installer's perspective: not only what a manufacturer specifies, but also which conditions are important for correct installation and reliable operation.
From solar panels to complete energy systems
The energy market has developed from relatively independent PV installations towards systems in which multiple components work together.
A modern energy system can consist of solar panels, a hybrid inverter, battery modules, a Battery Management System (BMS), a Smart Meter, communication equipment and an Energy Management System (EMS).
Depending on the application, backup power functionality and additional energy management may also be included.
This means that the technical quality of a system depends on more than the quality of its individual components.
A battery and inverter must be demonstrably compatible. Electrical limits must be respected. Communication and firmware must match the supported configuration. The metering system and any backup functionality must also be correctly designed.
At Rebor, the assessment of the complete energy system is therefore central to the technical approach.
What this expertise means for installers
For installers and business customers, Rebor's technical background translates into three core principles.
1. Compatibility before product combination
Not every technically similar product is automatically interchangeable. For inverters, batteries, BMS systems and communication components, official compatibility information and manufacturer requirements are decisive.
2. Practical applicability before theoretical possibilities
A system must not only be electrically possible; it must also be logical to install, configure, maintain and, where necessary, expand.
3. Documentation before assumptions
Experience helps identify technical risks. Current datasheets, installation manuals, compatibility lists and manufacturer documentation then determine which product-specific configurations are actually supported.
This approach supports technical product selection and advisory services within Rebor.
Technical expertise supported by practice and research
The technical background behind Rebor can be traced through several documented developments.
- 1984 — Industrial technical foundation
- Beginning of a career in production, engineering, industrialisation and production management.
- 2007/2008 — Solar energy
- Transition to entrepreneurship and practical activities involving PV systems.
- 2010 — Energiedak
- René Borro is personally mentioned in RVO documentation on integrated solar energy.
- 2013–2015 — LOCI development
- Research into integrated PV roof elements with partners from industry and applied research.
- 2014 — PV-related patent
- René Borro registered as the inventor of mounting technology for frameless solar panels.
- 2017 onwards — Rebor
- Further development of international PV trading, product selection and technical cooperation.
- 2020–2021 — Technical PV responsibility
- Historical InstallQ documentation identifies René Borro as technical manager within Rebor B.V.
- 2021 onwards — Energy storage
- Further technical training and expansion into battery systems and hybrid energy applications.
Independent sources and technical documentation
The technical background of René Borro and Rebor's innovation activities are supported by, among others, the following publicly available sources.
RVO — Energiedak 2010
A historical publication by Agentschap NL, whose activities are now part of RVO, in which René Borro is personally mentioned in connection with the development of an integrated solar energy roof.
TNO — Roof renovation with innovative PV insulation elements
Research documentation on the LOCI project, carried out with Zonnepanelen-Parkstad, Unilin Insulation and SEAC. René Borro is listed as a co-author.
Topsector Energie — LOCI
Official project registration for the development of a prefabricated, roof-integrated PV system. Rebor B.V., SEAC and Unilin Insulation are listed as consortium participants.
Patent documentation — NL2012450B1
Patent registration listing René Borro as the inventor of mounting technology for frameless solar panels.
Topsector Energie — Rebor B.V.
An overview of research and innovation projects in which Rebor B.V. has participated, including LOCI, De Groene Combi and ASAP.
Ubbink — Loci in practice
An independent project description of the cooperation between Rebor, Stabo Bouw and Ubbink in the application of the Loci solar roof in Bovenkarspel.
Netherlands Patent Office — European patent EP2921800
Official publication in the Dutch Industrial Property Bulletin dated 14 March 2018. It identifies René Borro as the inventor and Rebor B.V. as the patent holder.
Connecting research, practice and product selection
The technical development behind Rebor extends from industrial engineering and product development through practical PV installation and integrated solar roofs to international solar trading and modern energy storage.
For installers and business customers, what matters most is how this experience is applied.
Not by promising technical possibilities without verification, but by critically assessing products, checking compatibility and approaching solutions as complete systems.
Technical experience helps to ask the right questions. Current manufacturer documentation determines the product-specific answer.
This is an important principle of the technical support provided by Rebor B.V.