Schneider Electric and dhp Technology Accelerate Foldable Solar Roof Innovation with Open Automation
Time:2026-06-26 Browse: 0
Schneider Electric partners with dhp Technology AG and Baffy AG to deploy EcoStruxure Open Automation, improving deployment efficiency, scalability, and flexibility in foldable solar roof systems for renewable energy applications.
Schneider Electric and dhp Technology Drive Open Automation in Foldable Solar Roof Innovation
In the context of accelerating global energy transition, maximizing renewable energy generation within limited physical space has become a critical challenge for clean energy developers and industrial operators. Swiss innovation company dhp Technology AG is addressing this challenge with its HORIZON foldable solar roof system, a flexible photovoltaic solution designed for applications such as wastewater treatment plants, parking areas, and logistics sites.
To support its growing deployment needs, dhp Technology has partnered with Schneider Electric and system integrator Baffy AG to implement an open automation architecture based on software-defined control principles. The initiative significantly enhances system scalability, standardization, and deployment efficiency while reducing engineering complexity.
Automation Bottlenecks in Rapid Business Expansion
The HORIZON foldable solar roof system is an innovative retractable photovoltaic structure designed to optimize land use efficiency. Unlike conventional fixed solar installations, the system uses a lightweight modular design and cable-driven structure to deploy or retract solar panels based on environmental conditions.
As demand increased, dhp Technology faced limitations in its traditional automation architecture. Earlier systems relied heavily on customized control and visualization engineering, requiring significant project-specific adaptation.
Key challenges included:
Limited engineering standardization and reuse across projects
Strong dependency on specific vendor ecosystems
Long development and on-site commissioning cycles
High reliance on external technical resources
Limited scalability of the existing automation architecture
These constraints gradually became a bottleneck for business expansion and faster project delivery.
Open Automation as a Strategic Solution
After evaluating multiple approaches, dhp Technology selected the EcoStruxure Open Automation platform (EAE) from Schneider Electric. The solution is based on a software-defined automation concept, which decouples control software from dedicated hardware platforms.
This architecture enables control applications to run across different hardware environments, improving system flexibility and reducing vendor lock-in.
The deployed solution includes:
EcoStruxure Open Automation (EAE) platform
Modicon M262 dPAC controller
Harmony P6 industrial PC
The implementation was supported by Baffy AG, which provided system integration expertise and ensured smooth deployment.
A key advantage of this architecture is its modular and configuration-based engineering approach. Predefined software modules allow engineers to configure systems based on project requirements rather than developing control logic from scratch.
In addition, the system integrates weather monitoring capabilities, enabling automatic retraction of solar structures in response to extreme conditions such as strong wind, hail, or snow, improving operational safety and system reliability.
Significant Gains in Efficiency and Operational Flexibility
Following deployment of the EcoStruxure Open Automation platform, dhp Technology achieved measurable improvements across engineering and operational workflows.
1. 50% Reduction in Commissioning Time
Standardized modules and configuration-based deployment significantly shortened system setup and on-site commissioning cycles. Project execution time was reduced by approximately 50%, enabling faster delivery and improved parallel project execution capacity.
2. Increased Vendor Independence
The open automation architecture reduced dependency on proprietary ecosystems, allowing dhp Technology greater flexibility in hardware selection and system design. This improved long-term scalability and reduced reliance on external engineering resources.
3. Faster and More Autonomous Field Deployment
Field engineers are now able to complete system configuration and commissioning independently, without requiring external IT specialists on-site. This has significantly improved responsiveness and reduced operational delays.
According to dhp Technology co-founder and Managing Partner Gian Andri Diem, the EcoStruxure Open Automation platform has simplified field operations and provided greater freedom in control programming and system design, resulting in substantial time savings during installation and commissioning.
Expanding Use Cases in Renewable Energy Infrastructure
The collaboration between Schneider Electric and dhp Technology demonstrates the practical value of open, software-defined automation in complex renewable energy applications.
Building on this foundation, both companies are exploring additional integration scenarios, including combining foldable solar roof systems with electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. This direction is expected to further enhance energy utilization efficiency and expand the application scope of modular renewable energy systems.
