A revolutionary building material that integrates solar energy collection into urban infrastructure could reshape smart cities.
At the Be Positive 2025 Expo, PHOMI HOLDING is set to unveil its econiclay-based Smart City Material Solutions, a breakthrough that turns buildings into power stations. This innovation comes as global cities face mounting pressure to reduce carbon emissions while accommodating rapid urban growth.
Building Materials as Power Stations
The construction sector accounts for over 35% of global carbon emissions, according to the International Energy Agency. A key challenge is the low energy efficiency of traditional building materials, which rely on separate solar installations for renewable energy generation.
PHOMI’s econiclay eBIPV technology (embedded Building Integrated Photovoltaics) seeks to address this by integrating solar modules directly into building structures, eliminating the need for traditional glass-based photovoltaic panels.
“This is not just an advancement in material science but a radical shift in urban energy systems,” said a senior researcher from the French Renewable Energy Agency.
By embedding high-efficiency solar cells into curtain walls, PHOMI’s econiclay material could transform buildings into energy-generating entities, potentially reducing urban carbon footprints by over 54% compared to traditional glass BIPV systems.
High Efficiency, Low Carbon Impact
PHOMI’s eBIPV solution is said to be 90% more efficient than standard glass-based BIPV materials with a transparency of 60%. Beyond energy collection, PHOMI’s smart material ecosystem includes:
- eCovering Series – Smart facade materials
- eBIPV Series – Integrated photovoltaic surfaces
- eDisplay Series – Intelligent visual interfaces
- Negative Ion Series – Materials that enhance urban air quality
“This technology is more than an upgrade—it redefines how buildings interact with their environment,” a PHOMI spokesperson said at the Expo.
A Game-Changer for Europe’s Smart Building Plans
PHOMI’s launch coincides with the EU’s upcoming ‘Smart Buildings 2030’ initiative, which seeks to make buildings central to urban energy networks. Analysts say PHOMI’s econiclay innovation aligns with the EU’s ‘Buildings as Energy Entities’ strategy, potentially accelerating Europe’s transition to carbon-neutral cities.
As policymakers push for smarter, more sustainable urban development, PHOMI’s econiclay technology could play a key role in reshaping European and global construction standards.