ENergy harVesting by Invisible Solar IntegratiON in building skins

Project Information

Envision

Grant agreement ID: 767180

DOI 10.3030/767180

Project closed

EC signature date 10 July 2017

Start date 1 October 2017

End date 30 September 2022

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies - Advanced manufacturing and processing

Total cost € 5 981 315,54

EU contribution € 4 900 312,52

Coordinated by

NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNO
Netherlands

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - Envision (ENergy harVesting by Invisible Solar IntegratiON in building skins)

Reporting period: 2019-04-01 to 2020-09-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

ENVISION is a full envelope concept that harvests solar energy from the 120 billion square meters of building surface available within the EU28. Envision using the currently unused 60 billion square meters of façade surface. That is why ENVISION will demonstrate a full renovation concept that, for the first time, harvests energy from ALL building surfaces (transparent and opaque). The hybrid harvesting solutions will harvest energy both thermal and electric from the whole envelope, using standard PV solutions for roof and developing new solutions for the façade. As façade solutions have the lowest TRL, ENVISION will develop energy harvesting invisible aesthetic façade solutions. The solutions will harvest maximum amount of solar energy and simultaneously retain the aesthetic and functional properties of the façade. To maximise efficient usage of the harvested energy, the solutions are coupled to novel heat systems and district heat networks. ENVISION focusses on energy harvesting of the façade, and works by absorbing the invisible part of the solar radiation (the near-infrared (NIR) part, roughly 50% of the solar energy spectrum) allowing visible aspects to be retained. The ENVISION harvesting of solar energy is achieved via:
1. heat collecting non-transparent aesthetically pleasing façade elements by harvesting the NIR solar radiation,
2. heat harvesting ventilated glass by harvesting the NIR solar radiation,
3. electricity harvesting photovoltaic glazing solutions

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

WP.1 ENVISION Technology and Project Roadmap:
Detailing the plan for the harvesting technologies development and demonstration
WP.2 Research and Development of RES harvesting façade elements:
- Co-development and testing of NIR absorbing & colored coatings for heat harvesting façade
- Development towards colored glazing to be used façade integrated solar collectors
- Development towards energy harvesting through PV Solar Harvesting Glass
WP.3 Towards full ENVISION renovation concept via development of pre-fab façade solutions and
energy system:
- Development towards RES harvesting via integration of different harvesting elements
- Development of full, renovation concept
- Development of monitoring and maintenance plans of the system
WP.4 Integration and interaction of the energy harvesting technologies to district network:
- Modelling energy performances at building level
- Modelling energy performances at district level
WP.5 Demonstration, Energy performance, monitoring and validation:
- Northern Europe Demonstration
- Southern Europe Demonstration
- Global Environmental and energy efficiency assessment of the ENVISION technologies
- Practices and Measures for the Upscale and Replication of the ENVISION technologies
WP 6. Dissemination and Exploitation:
- Demonstration site-level Economic impact assessment
- Evaluation of wider European-level energy and economic impact
- Replication Strategy
- Business models and plan
- Dissemination
WP 7. Project Management:
- Scientific and Technical Coordination

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The ENVISION concept has a several advantages compared to other approaches.
Firstly, the ENVISION concept is focusing on harvesting energy from facades and roofs instead of static surfaces. The concept makes use of standard PV roof solutions, new solar heat collectors in facades and new glazing solutions with heat or electricity harvesting compared to insulation, central heat recovery options form state of the art solutions. Instead of conventional separate control system for each system, a model predictive control system will be integrated. Best available technologies for windows, PV or solar roof collectors will be used to use the maximum of façade surface to harvest energy. The modular approach and thin panels used makes installment and implementation of panels easy. Even higher energy performances will be gained as a result of coupling to district heating. The units can be used as stand-alone solutions. Energy gains up to >75% if energy saving and 15-20GJ/y energy gain per dwelling are envisaged.

ENVISION Uncovered colored green, yellow and orange colletors