Self-sufficient buildings are the holy grail of sustainable urbanism. To attain that, nonetheless, many issues want to return collectively. Sensible energy administration programs based mostly on the Web of Issues (IoT), reflective coatings to forestall overheating, thermal insulation to take care of the room temperature and, after all, renewable power applied sciences. After specializing in particular reflective pigments, photo voltaic roofs, and even photovoltaic glass, this time know-how goes down a special highway: an especially skinny photovoltaic movie that, rolled over concrete façades, might considerably improve the solar energy output of buildings. Such is the result of an modern mission developed by a concrete producer and an organization specialised within the manufacturing of PV natural movies.
In line with its creators, this technique that comes with a one-millimeter skinny movie into concrete panels can double the facility manufacturing of typical photo voltaic roofs. That is primarily as a result of the accessible floor is way bigger. In actual fact, a constructing with 60% of its floor lined by HeliaFilm, because the industrial product is understood, might meet nearly one-third of its energy wants. This new development materials, which is 95% lighter than conventional panels, could be utilized onto the concrete floor with none dangers for the construction.
Apart from these present hybrid choices which might be supplied as modules for the development of buildings, there’s additionally the opportunity of retrofitting previous buildings with an identical kind of movie to enhance their power effectivity. And never solely on concrete but in addition over metal and glass because of the semitransparent variations of this natural movie.
The pilot take a look at for this technological mission has already been carried out efficiently in Lyon (Franc) with 25 and 40 sq. meter surfaces, which will probably be elevated to 200 meters throughout 2019. The industrial product may also be launched this yr.
How does the photovoltaic movie work?
Heliatek, the German producer behind this modern know-how for constructing façades, has developed an natural movie know-how, which is polymer-based and could be produced in rolls with very low power necessities and at a low temperature too. This had up to now been a problem within the manufacturing of photo voltaic panels. The fabric may be very environment friendly, as a single gram can cowl as much as a sq. meter of movie. The manufacturing course of doesn’t want any poisonous compounds or heavy metals. Lastly, it extra sturdy than typical PV panels.
At the moment, the corporate has put in its photovoltaic movie in several types of buildings and surfaces, in international locations similar to Germany, France, Singapore or Turkey. In the long term, the event of this kind of applied sciences is bringing us nearer to a sustainable power mannequin.
