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SmartFlower: Characteristics, Price and Models

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A SmartFlower solar panel produces photovoltaic energy that can be sold or used for self-consumption.

Come straight from Austria, SmartFlower is a revolutionary photovoltaic solar installation that can improve electricity production by 40% compared to conventional solar roof installations. Thanks to its unique and ingenious flower-shaped design, the SmartFlower’s solar panels rotate in order to follow the sun throughout the day. All the details about this product can be found below.

Discovering the SmartFlower

When the SmartFlower appeared on the French market in 2014, it was distributed by EDF’s subsidiary dedicated to photovoltaic electricity and renewable energies called EDF ENR. It came as a true revolution in the world of solar panels because of its unique and imposing flower-shaped solar panels. But what exactly makes this product so special?

What is SmartFlower?

SmartFlower characteristics

SmartFlower is a smart and autonomous system designed to produce photovoltaic solar energy. Standing at a height of 5 meters (16.4ft), this “solar flower” takes its inspiration from mother nature, as it rotates throughout the day in the same way as sunflower petals do. Thanks to this, the sun-tracking solar flower can produce 40% more electricity than what could conventional solar panels.

SmartFlower Energy Technology, the Austrian company which designed this smart product, did so in an effort to face the issues encountered by solar panels. Indeed, these always require to be oriented fully South, their levels of production vary dramatically depending on the time of day, and often face losses in efficiency due to the fouling of photovoltaic surfaces. The SmartFlower had the ambition to tackle all these problems, which often cause solar panels to be criticised.

Two versions of the product were designed: the Classic SmartFlower and the SmartFlower +Plus. This second version contains batteries that can store the produced electricity directly in the SmartFlower’s base, for later use.

SmartFlower Characteristics

SmartFlower’s main characteristics are the following:

  • It follows the sun’s trajectory: just like a sunflower, the SmartFlower rotates automatically throughout the day, which means it enjoys maximal sun exposure from dusk till dawn. This is done thanks to “smart tracking” (solar trackers and a double horizontal and vertical rotating axis).
  • Its panels clean themselves automatically thanks to a “smart cleaning” system, which makes the photovoltaic panels more efficient and also means the product requires only minimal maintenance.
  • Its photovoltaic panels cool down automatically: heat reduces the efficiency of the photovoltaic cells by 5% every 10 degrees, but thanks to a “smart cooling” ventilation system, a SmartFlower's panels are not affected by this, which allows for an extra 5 to 10% in production.
  • Its panels remain protected in case of strong wind: thanks to the SmartFlower’s “smart safety” system, if the wind ever reaches 47 km/h, its petals will fold back into a horizontal position, and fold up completely past 63 km/h. No need to worry about the panels getting damaged during violent gusts of wind.
  • Its electricity production and consumption can be supervised thanks to the dedicated SmartFlower mobile App.
  • It comes with a unique “Plug Play” technology: once installed, the SmartFlower will be operational within an hour, and can be set up on any type of surface thanks to its four screws planted into the ground. It can be dismantled, contrary to roof systems, and can be taken along in case of a house move. All this makes it flexible, quick and easy to use.

The SmartFlower has 12 photovoltaic petals, each one a combination of 40 monocrystalline photovoltaic cells. At its peak power of 2,50 kWc, it will be able to produce between 3,800 kWh and 6,200 kWh per year (depending on the region and sun exposure).

Additionally, the SmartFlower can work in virtually any climate, as it can work at any between -20°C and 50°C. It will this be usable anywhere in France, at any time of year.

Getting to know the different SmartFlower models

SmartFlower (former SmartFlower POP)

The first model introduced was SmartFlower POP. With its power of 2.31 kWc for 700 kg and a diameter of 4.8 meters, the SmartFlower POP promised to increase energy production by 40%, which is equivalent to between 3,400 kWh and 6,200 kWh yearly, depending on location. It came in 8 colours: cream, fuchsia, emerald, turquoise, ocean, lavender, aluminium and safran.

Since the Austrian company SmartFlower Energy went bankrupt, it is no longer purchasable in Europe. This said, an equivalent model simply named “SmartFlower” is still commercialised in the US. This model is very similar to the POP version, aside it being slightly more powerful (205 kWc) and available in fewer colours (white, grey, green and blue).

SmartFlower +Plus (formerly SmartFlower POP+)

The SmartFlower POP+ had the specificity of integrating a domestic storage battery in its base. This allowed any extra produced solar electricity to be stored during the day for later use.

The model came with two battery capacity variations: the SmartFlower POP+ On-Grid, with a 2.3 kWh battery (2 storage cells), and the SmartFlower POP+ Off-Grid with a storage capacity of 4.6 kWh (4 cells). The batteries could last up to 5,000 charging cycles.

The SmartFlower POP+ presented very similar technical characteristics as the SmartFlower POP, and equivalent power (2.31 kWc) for the same annual production.

Using a SmartFlower to charge an electric car

green electricity

This was made possible thanks to the SmartFlower POP-e, a model which came with a power station for electric cars integrated into its base.

With a production capacity equivalent to that of the SmartFlower POP and POP+, this model had a 22 kWv AC load output, allowing it to function as a charger for electric cars. The SmartFlower POP-e was targeted at private individuals but also shopping centre car parks, companies, local authorities…

Currently, this model is also unavailable across Europe and the US.

Technical specificities of the SmartFlower and SmartFlower +Plus

Both the SmartFlower and SmartFlower +Plus remain available on the US market, in four different colours: white, grey, green and blue.

Technical specificities of the SmartFlower and SmartFlower +Plus
  SmartFlower and SmartFlower +Plus
Solar Production
Nominal power 2,50 kWc
Annual production 3,800 - 6,200 kWh / year
Physical characteristics
Height 4,82 m
Flower diameter 4,80 m
Photovoltaic surface 18 m²
Weight 680 kg
Safety
Temperature limits between -20º and +50º
Wind resistance 47 km/h : horizontal position
63 km/h : total recline

How much energy can a SmartFlower produce?

Depending on location, a SmartFlower can produce 3,800 to 6,200 kWh of solar electricity per year - which is around 40% more than compared to what conventional solar panels produce.

Comparison efficiency SmartFlower and conventional solar panels in France
  Conventional solar panels SmartFlower solar panels
Power 2,5 kWc 2,5 kWc
City Lille Nice Lille Nice
Production capacity 800 kWh / kWc 1500 kWh / kWc +40% +40%
Annual production 2 000 kWh 3 750 kWh 2 800 kWh 5 250 kWh

A SmartFlower can provide between 9 and 18 kWh of electricity per day at its peak - enough to charge a smartphone 2,424 times, drive 100 km in an electric car or even watch 360 hours of TV.

A household’s consumption of electricity depends on which heating method and installations it uses: electrical appliances, swimming pool, electric car... You can get an estimate of your annual consumption by looking at the average energy consumption in France, depending on your consumption profile.

A SmartFlower can deliver enough energy to ensure electric self-consumption of a family of 4, excluding heating and hot water. Such a household living in a 100m2 house should easily fulfil its electricity needs (around 2,500 kWh/year) if it uses natural gas for heating and cooking, and owns a SmartFlower +Plus.

However, a SmartFlower’s production would not meet this same family’s needs (over 17,000 kWh per year) if the family relies on an all-electric installation. It is thus important to make a careful estimate of your annual electricity consumption before purchasing a SmartFlower.

Reselling SmartFlower photovoltaic electricity

green energy

Similarly to a conventional solar panel, a SmartFlower will likely produce more than enough solar energy for a private individual. If so, the consumer can sell this energy surplus, either to EDF or to a supplier offering the repurchase of solar energy, like eKwateur. SmartFlower owners have a choice: either selling the entire solar production, or only the surplus. The repurchase price will vary depending on which of these two options is chosen.

Resale price of electricity produced by a SmartFlower for EDF - from 01/07 to 31/09/18
    Resale of total Resale of surplus
Installation type Power category (kWc) Repurchase price Repurchase price Installation bonus
SmartFlower ≤ 3 kWc 12,1 c€ / kWh 10 c€ / kWh 390€ / kWc

If all electricity production is sold, and depending on annual production, a SmartFlower could theoretically earn its owner between 460€ (for 3,800 kWh) and 750€ (for 6,200 kWh) per year.

If only the energy surplus is put on sale, and assuming a 60% rate of self-consumption, a SmartFlower could earn its owner between 150€ (for 3,800 kWh) and over 250€ (for 6,200 kWh) per year, in addition to an installation bonus of 975€ (390€ x 2,5 kWc), and savings on electricity bills all year round thanks to self-consumption.

To whom can I sell my SmartFlower solar energy? Since the SmartFlower is no longer marketed by EDF ENR in France, all electricity produced by the product can be resold to other energy suppliers, such as eKwateur or Ilek.

How much does a SmartFlower cost?

Indeed, a SmartFlower is expensive. Additionally, even if reselling part or all of the produced solar electricity to EDF or another energy supplier, savings will be slow to appear. Self-consumption implies a long return on investment, often over several decades.

As a result, the SmartFlower is not affordable to all households, even though these devices are eligible for financial aid from the State to fund solar installations. The product still managed to seduce over 300 businesses, local authorities and private individuals by the end of 2017.

  • What guarantees come with a SmartFlower?
  • Modules are guaranteed for 10 years.
  • The inverter is guaranteed for 5 years.
  • The system is guaranteed for 5 years.
  • Module performance is guaranteed 25 years (at 80% of the initial performance).

The future of SmartFlower in France

In November 2017, the Austrian company SmartFlower Energy Technology GmbH was declared bankrupt, having accumulated over 5.2 million euros of debt. The firm owed money to 20 creditors and had not been able to become profitable through its sales in Europe, which led the SmartFlower to be discontinued across the continent.

But thankfully, SmartFlower Solar LLC has acquired most of the assets of Smartflower Energy Technology GmbH from its insolvency administrator, and because of this Smartflower is now actively available in Europe. The production of units has resumed in its original facility in Austria and what's more active European employees and dealers are continuing to expand SmartFlower’s presence across the continent.

As for the company’s US division, SmartFlower Solar is also getting on quite well (CEO of the division Jim Gordon owns all the SmartFlower intellectual property rights for the American continent, which makes SmartFlower Solar completely independent of its European counterpart).