The trade in counterfeit products, which infringe trademarks and copyrights, moves around 3,3% of the world economy, according to the latest survey carried out by the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development). Aiming to combat piracy in the photovoltaic industry, the solar panel manufacturer Solar AE offers the international photovoltaic market the “AE Solar” application that verifies and authenticates the modules produced by the company and distributed in more than 95 countries.
The application is integrated into an NFC (Near Field Communication) chip attached to the panels produced by the manufacturer. According to the company, NFC acts as an electronic identity document, through a set of wireless communication protocols that connect two electronic devices within a proximity of 4 cm.
The device can act as identity documents or electronic keys, and works as passive databases that allow reading and use for various applications, such as serial numbers or technical specifications of a product.
The authenticity verification of AE Solar panels is done through the barcode scanning in the manufacturer's app, which also provides information about the module's serial number and technical specifications. In addition, users can communicate directly with professionals from the manufacturer to ask questions and receive feedback.
“AE Solar is the first photovoltaic panel manufacturer to integrate NFC technology into its modules, once again showing its commitment to innovation and technology. NFC communication, which evolved from radio frequency identification (RFID), is a well-established technology used around the world by companies such as Apple, Android and Samsung”, explains Tales Siqueira, engineer at AE Solar.
“What AE Solar did was find a way to add value to its panels using this existing technology to correct a current problem, the piracy of its modules. This is innovation!”, he added.
“NFC Technology is the best solution against piracy that we have faced countless times in recent years. Now, we are pleased to announce to our customers that they are fully protected against this and can easily identify the quality product and the counterfeit.” highlights David Tsaava, LATAM regional manager at AE Solar.
Use requires NFC compatibility, internet connection and access to the phone's camera. The AE Solar app is free and available for smartphones with Android and IOS operating systems.
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