POS+ can be installed without any technical training
It’s recyclable, which gets around the end-of-life issues that other panels have
Its designer hopes to make a working prototype soon
Credit: James Dyson Award
A new type of home solar kit from Muthesius Kunsthochschule, that can be installed by anyone without any tools has the potential to revolutionise how households around consume renewable energy, including those in remote regions without access to electricity, has been launched.
The POS+ is a 800x400mm modular organic photovoltaic (OPV) product which can be easily set up and, unlike other solar panel systems, has a ‘return and maintenance system’ that means it doesn’t become long-term waste.
Credit: James Dyson Awards
Its designer Franziska Rausch from Muthesius Kunsthochschule in Kiel, Germany, said it is easier to recycle than conventional silicon modules because it is “more flexible” and “resource efficient”.
Rausch explained that it is installed at working height by “a simple zip-and-go strap” and that “no-tools are necessary”, as well as there being no need for climbing anywhere. “Even people without technical experience can set it up safely,” she said.
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As stated above, the POS+ is different from conventional solar panels because it is lighter, more flexible and easier to install. It is also recyclable, which mitigates one of the high-profile issues with conventional solar panels.
It has a waterproof housing that makes it much easier for parts to be replaced and maintained. The POS+ is currently only equipped to power basic lighting, but Rausch insists its future use is “expandable”.
Credit: James Dyson Award
Rausch developed it while visiting Cambodia with the NGO Sunhelp. She installed solar panels in remote villages after observing “unsafe DIY installations with cable ties, rusty nails and makeshift pole constructions”.
The next steps, according to Rausch, are to build a working prototype and to develop a “market-ready” prototype which will be tested under real conditions, most likely in Cambodia.
Despite OPV being expensive, Rausch insists it has potential because of its “durability, repairability and recyclability”.
“My goal is to work as a designer in solar innovation and contribute to sustainable and accessible energy systems. POS+ is just the beginning of that journey,” she said.
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Max joined The Eco Experts as content manager in February 2024. He has written about sustainability issues across numerous industries, including maritime, supply chain, finance, mining, and retail. He has also written extensively for consumer titles like City AM, The Morning Star, and The Daily Express.
In 2020, he covered in detail the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) legislation on sulphur emissions and its effects on the global container shipping market as online editor of Port Technology International.
He also explored the initiatives major container ports and terminals have launched in order to ship vital goods across the world without polluting the environment.
Since then, he has reported heavily on the impact made by environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices on the supply chain of minerals, with a particular focus on rare earth mining in Africa.
As part of this, in 2022 Max visited mines and ports in Angola to hone in on the challenges being faced by one of the world’s biggest producers of rare earth minerals.
His most recent sustainability-related work came much closer to home, as he investigated the eco-challenges faced by independent retailers in the UK, specifically looking at how they can cut emissions and continue to thrive.
Max lives in South London and is an avid reader of books on modern history and ghost stories. He has also recently learned to play the game Mahjong and takes every opportunity to do so. He is also yet to find a sport he doesn’t enjoy watching.
Tamara BirchNewsletter and sponsored content editor
Tamara is a London-based journalist and has written about environmental topics for more than four years. This includes advising small business owners on cost-effective ways, like solar panels and energy-efficient products, to help them become more sustainable.
She has used her journalist and research skills to become highly knowledgeable on sustainable initiatives, issues, and solutions to help consumers do their bit for the environment – all while reducing monthly costs.
In addition to adopting sustainable practices in her personal life, Tamara has worked in the retail B2B space to help independent retailers think about their environmental choices and how they can help improve their business. She now uses this knowledge to help consumers do the same.
Her passion for sustainability and eco-friendly solutions stems from a long obsession with nature and animals and ensuring they feel looked after. In her free time, Tamara enjoys reading fantasy novels, visiting the gym, and going on long walks in new areas.
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