Italian startup Syntropia has developed a hybrid photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) module featuring a microchannel aluminum heat absorber positioned behind the photovoltaic layer. According to the company, the PV laminate is integrated into a low-emissivity insulating glass structure, while the thermal absorber recovers solar heat that is not converted into electricity. A rear insulation layer helps reduce heat losses to the surrounding environment.
The module simultaneously generates electricity and heat. The PV cells convert part of the incoming solar radiation into electricity, while excess heat is transferred to the aluminum absorber and subsequently to a heat-transfer fluid circulating through its microchannels. The heated fluid can supply thermal energy to a hot-water storage tank, heat pump or geothermal system. By extracting heat from the PV layer, the thermal circuit also helps reduce the operating temperature of the solar cells.
In initial prototype tests conducted between May and August 2019, the company said its hybrid module generated an average of 4% more electricity than a comparable conventional PV module while heating a 200-liter water tank to temperatures of up to 70 C.
“Further testing conducted this year, in late June 2026, showed that our PVT module generated 3.91 kWh of electricity, compared with 3.79 kWh from a conventional PV module under the same solar irradiation conditions,” Syntropia CEO and founder Alessio Iannascoli told pv magazine. “This represented a 3.1% increase in electrical output, equivalent to an additional 117 Wh over the test day. The PVT module also achieved an integrated electrical efficiency of 20.1%, compared with 19.5% for the reference PV panel.”
According to Iannascoli, the PVT module recovered 9.07 kWh of thermal energy during the same test, achieving a weighted average thermal efficiency of 46.7%. The recovered heat increased the temperature of a 200-liter water storage tank from 35 C to approximately 73 C. Combined electrical and thermal output reached 12.98 kWh, corresponding to an overall energy conversion efficiency of 66.8%.
“The use of anti-reflective, low-emissivity glass contributed to improved thermal performance while maintaining high electrical efficiency,” he said, adding that the measurements were taken at the company’s own laboratory.
The DuoSolis panel has a nominal electrical output of 535 W and a nominal thermal output of 1.4 kW, for a combined nominal output of 1,940 W, according to the manufacturer’s product documentation. The manufacturer claims an average combined conversion efficiency exceeding 70%, potentially reaching 85% when the module is coupled with a multi-energy heat pump.
The PV component is based on module technology supplied by Italian manufacturer Peimar. It features 66 M10 monocrystalline n-type cells based on tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) technology. The panel has a rated power output of 535 W and a conversion efficiency of 22.82%. Its open-circuit voltage is 45.91 V, short-circuit current is 14.6 A, maximum power voltage is 38.83 V and maximum power current is 13.78 A. The maximum system voltage is 1,500 V.
The PV module also features 3.2 mm tempered front glass with an anti-reflective coating, a Tedlar-PET-Tedlar (TPT) backsheet and a black anodized aluminum frame. Its power temperature coefficient is -0.29%/C, with an operating temperature range of -40 C to 85 C. It also features an IP68-rated junction box and is certified to IEC 61215 and IEC 61730 standards.
The thermal collector has a stated optical efficiency of 60%, a stagnation temperature of 90 C and a fluid capacity of 1.3 liters. The datasheet specifies a nominal flow rate of 120 liters/hour, a pressure drop of 80 mbar at 100 liters/hour and a collector area of 2.33 m2. The complete PVT module measures 2.06 m × 1.13 m × 0.05 m, weighs 45 kg and features 1/2-inch female pipe connections.
The product comes with 30-year product and linear power output warranties.
Syntropia is positioning DuoSolis as part of a broader building energy system rather than solely as a standalone solar collector. According to the company, the modules can provide a thermal energy source for heat pumps or recharge geothermal probes. They can be installed on pitched roofs, flat roofs and façades, and combined in the same array with conventional PV modules of similar dimensions.
The proposed Syntropia System integrates DuoSolis modules with the company’s SyntroCore multi-energy geothermal heat pump, GeoPlus compact geothermal probes and SyntroCode energy management software. The system is designed to transfer surplus solar heat into thermal storage or the ground and recover it when needed.
“Syntropia is developing SyntroCore, a proprietary heat pump system designed to integrate multiple thermal energy sources,” Iannascoli said. “The project is currently in the early research and development stage, and the company has not yet disclosed technical specifications or performance data for the planned unit.”
“For system development and validation, Syntropia is using commercially available water-to-water geothermal heat pumps,” he added. “Among the reference technologies under consideration are reversible water-cooled units capable of operating with water or water-glycol mixtures, making them compatible with closed-loop geothermal probes, groundwater sources and the company’s GeoPlus geothermal technology.”
According to Syntropia, the reference heat pumps achieve a coefficient of performance (COP) of approximately 5.1 under W10/W35 conditions, in accordance with EN 14511. Their heating capacities range from approximately 7 kW to more than 40 kW, depending on the model. Declared seasonal coefficients of performance (SCOP) exceed 5 and reach approximately 6.3 under EN 14825 test conditions.
“The SyntroCore project aims to develop a heat pump optimized for multi-source operation, combining thermal energy from the company’s DuoSolis PVT modules, thermal storage systems and GeoPlus geothermal sources,” Iannascoli said. “The system will be controlled by SyntroCode, an intelligent energy management platform also under development. According to the company, the software will dynamically select and combine available heat sources to maximize overall seasonal system efficiency.”
Syntropia is also developing DuoSolis+, a next-generation version of its PVT platform. The company said the patented product under development is intended to simplify installation, improve architectural integration and increase system performance.
“Detailed technical specifications will be released after intellectual-property protection and product validation are completed,” Iannascoli said.
Syntropia is based in Busto Arsizio, in the province of Varese, in northern Italy’s Lombardy region. The company develops integrated solar thermal, photovoltaic, geothermal and heat pump technologies, alongside energy management systems.
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