Solar facade – Solar wall facade solution for PV modules and mounting systems

Compared to traditional roof-mounted solar panels, a vertical orientation prevents any snow accumulation. It was also found that solar gain is increased in winter because the solar modules are oriented more towards the lower angle of the sun in winter. Furthermore, it was observed that reflective snow on the ground increases solar energy by up to 50%.

Energy generation through solar facades is part of a solar system consisting of fences and walls that share the common feature of vertical orientation of the modules.

Solar facades offer industry another way to expand its own autonomous power supply; see also Amazon Logistics for more information. In addition to solar carports and rooftopsolar systems, vertically mounted solar modules on walls and fences are a complementary alternative.

Related to this:

• Wall/fence systems: Solar fence and solar wall for company premises and fenced-in business areas

Proper planning and selection of the appropriate solar mounting system. Just as solar panels and mounting systems exist in various designs, there are also different types of facades, which differ not only in building type (e.g., house, warehouse) and construction method (e.g., wooden house, brick building, concrete building, lightweight steel hall), but also in their construction technique.

• Lightweight construction: timber construction, lightweight steel construction and drywall construction
• Solid construction: reinforced concrete, lightweight concrete, aerated concrete, brickwork and sand-lime brick
• Hybrid construction: Combination of solid and lightweight construction methods

There is no one-size-fits-all technology. Each solar wall or facade has its own unique characteristics. Specific features must be taken into account, and the mounting system for photovoltaic panels doesn't work the same way for everyone. Generally, this requires specific planning and adjustments.

The right facade solar mounting system differs from others not only in its quick installation and easy maintenance, but also in that it maintains a gap between the wall and the modules, allowing continuous air circulation and thus cooling the modules. This is because solar modules generate less electricity as the temperature rises.

Whether the installation is worthwhile in every case also depends on the size of the area and the orientation of the solar modules. Particularly in industry, especially in logistics, there are large, interesting vertical surfaces that are suitable for photovoltaics in addition to rooftop solar systems.

In North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), 68 terawatt-hours of solar power were calculated to be generated on the approximately eleven million roofs in the state. This calculation did not take into account the potential of possible solar walls or facades. Not every building wall is suitable for photovoltaics. However, considering that buildings typically have a larger facade area than roof area, there is a further potential for photovoltaics of a similar magnitude.

Thin-film PV modules are increasingly used in vertically installed solar modules, rather than the usual crystalline solar modules on roofs. In vertical applications, thin-film PV modules have a comparatively better efficiency due to the angle of incidence.

Different cell technologies for solar modules:

• Monocrystalline silicon
• Multicrystalline silicon
• Strip-drawn silicon
• Thin-film technologies

Other possible solar facade modules:

• Glass-glass modules have an extremely long lifespan due to the use of glass on both the front and back of the solar module.
• Thin-film PV solar facade for vertical walls.

Thick-film solar modules are cheaper and more efficient than thin-film modules. However, thin-film solar modules offer architects significantly more design freedom. For example, thin-film technology allows for the operation of retractable solar awnings.

It is also interesting that printable photovoltaic modules are possible.

PV elements and printed images will be installed on the office building of project partner Glassbel in 2015 – Image: © Glassbel | Source: Pressebox

Via Solis manufactures photovoltaic elements in a wide variety of shapes and colors, enabling architects to realize their visions. The modules can be square, triangular, or round instead of rectangular, and are available in all RAL colors. “Via Solis uses colored, semi-transparent solar glass developed by the innovative glass manufacturer Glassbel, which is already used in standard glass facades,” reports Dr. Juras Ulbikas of the Applied Research Institute for Prospective Technologies (ProTech) in Vilnius, who heads the SmartFlex project. “The desired shapes, colors, and sizes of the solar elements are transmitted directly from the architect’s design software to the production line.” (Source)

“With the help of intuitive planning software, architects will soon be able to design solar modules that perfectly match their buildings – the glass module elements can be round or triangular, for example,” explains Paul Grunow, head of the Photovoltaic Institute Berlin. “The special feature is that the production process for these unique solar elements will be largely automated. This is completely new; until now, only standard modules have been mass-produced or custom-made solar products painstakingly crafted by hand. SmartFlex aims for a highly smart and flexible series production that will also make custom-made solar elements affordable.”

“Solar power can also be generated using building facades, not just rooftops. Building-integrated photovoltaics has enormous potential that remains largely untapped,” reports Dr. Juras Ulbikas, head of the research group at the Applied Research Institute for Prospective Technologies (ProTech) in Vilnius, Lithuania, and coordinator of the SmartFlex project. “We are working on a plug-and-play solution for buildings that is easy to install and meets the needs of architects and installers – an ambitious goal. I am delighted that we have been able to attract such high-caliber partners.” In addition to ProTech, the Photovoltaic Institute Berlin, and Glassbel, the project partners include the internationally active machine manufacturer Mondragon Assembly, the solar system manufacturer Via Solis, the Swiss Competence Center for Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (SUPSI), the planning software developer Creative Amadeo, and the renewable energy agency Sunbeam Communications. (Source)