Objective
To provide a demonstration of an architecturally integrated photovoltaic facade in a northern European, city centre climate, to investigate the supply profile of the electricity generated and to stimulate interest in the technology among appropriate industrial sectors.
The Northumbria building of the University of Northumbria is typical of the construction techniques used in the 1960's and which now requires refurbishment. The North and South facing facades are replaced with rainscreen over-cladding. PV laminates are incorporated into the new South cladding giving an approximate capacity of 40 kWp. The cladding technique is novel such that it can be utilised for new buildings as well as refurbishment projects. The system is grid-connected and is expected to meet peak day-time loads for the four storey block containing teaching, staff and computer facilities. The project is based on a previous feasibility study which concluded that existing module lamination technology can be integrated into rainscreen overcladding.
Nr. of subsystems : 1
Power of subsystems : 39.5
Total power : 39.5
Backup : Grid
Nr. of modules : 465
@odule Description : BP 585, Solar Solar Saturn high efficiency mono-crystalline silicon laminates, 85 Wp each, 1180 x 520 mm
Connection : 15 laminates in series (270 V), 31 strings parallel, with diode protection on each string and on each module (because of foreseen partial shading).
Support : Integrated into new building cladding, 24.9 deg to vertical
Max. Power Tracker : Integral within inverter
Charge control : Not applicable
Battery : None
Inverter : Line commutated thyristor, with voltage surge suppressers as lightning protection, provided by SMA GmbH.
Inv. in (V) : 270 V dc
Inv. out (V) : 415 V ac (3-phase)
Inv. power (kW) : 40
Load Description : Four storey teaching block including lighting, air conditioningand computer systems.
Monitoring : Data acquisition system with five Solartron isolated Measurement Pods (IMPs), one located on the building roof and four located adjecent to the DC switch panel. Each IMP has 20 analogue input channels. The system has high reliability with monitoring fractions above 95%.
Programme(s)
Topic(s)
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
DEM - Demonstration contractsCoordinator
NE1 8ST Newcastle
United Kingdom