Making existing photovoltaic systems more efficient – with the NP® PV-matrix
The energy transition is often associated with large-scale measures: new land, new systems, new storage. But one key question is frequently overlooked: how can we increase efficiency using what already exists? This is precisely where our NP® PV-matrix comes into play – a tried and tested solution for over 13 years, designed to optimise existing photovoltaic systems without any structural modifications or technical interventions.
The NP® PV-matrix is a nanoscale photovoltaic coating that is applied directly to existing solar modules as a surface enhancement. Thanks to its anti-reflective and hydrophobic properties, it offers multiple benefits: it increases the efficiency of the solar panels, reduces performance losses caused by soiling, and helps keeping the modules cleaner for longer. The nanocoating acts like an invisible protective layer – it improves light absorption, protects the surface, and enables a kind of self-cleaning effect that can significantly reduce cleaning costs. In many cases, cleaning the panels without water is even possible.
Real-world installations around the globe demonstrate this clearly: depending on location, system age, and degree of contamination, performance gains in the single to double-digit percentage range have been achieved through the application of the coating. The technology has proven particularly effective in areas with high dust exposure, pollen, or difficult cleaning conditions – common causes of operational yield losses. Operators report not only increased electricity output but also reduced effort for maintenance and cleaning – an often underestimated factor in overall economic viability. After all, when considering whether solar panel cleaning is worthwhile, it is not just the quality of cleaning that matters, but also the length of the interval between cleanings. Here, the NP® PV-matrix can make a tangible contribution by extending cleaning cycles and reducing maintenance costs.
Our technology is not a theoretical vision – it has been in use under real conditions for over a decade. As a further development of our functional high-performance coatings, which we have offered on the market since 2002, it represents a systemic approach: not a symbolic innovation, but a practical solution for existing infrastructure. For this combination of technical effectiveness, operational benefits, and sustainability, we were honoured with the Green World Award (Global Gold Winner). In addition, the NP® PV-matrix is featured as an outstanding example in the 2026 edition of the Green Book.
With our membership in the bne – German Association of New Energy Industry – we aim to place this approach within a broader context: we see the energy transition as a systemic task, not a battle of products. For us, innovation is not an end in itself, but a tool that must align with the overall system – technically robust, economically viable, and practically implementable. We therefore welcome dialogue with operators, municipal utilities, energy suppliers, and all those who want to make tangible impact the foundation of their energy transition strategy.
Because in the end, it’s not just about what is technologically possible – but what actually works under real-world conditions.
