Objective
Integration of multifunction glass facades with solar cells. Testing and analysis of shading problems, pollution, reflections, optical acceptance, etc.
Grid connection.
Innovative idea is to produce an aesthetic panel and suitable mounting arrangement so that the product could be applied to other buildings.
The facade system operate since July 93 without an average production of 4200 kWh. (Final yield about 1 kWh/d x kWp). Operation shall continue for many years. The project has been awarded the European Solar Price 1994. 41 facade projects have followed until now by Pilkington Solar International. The interest of architects in solar facades has risen considerably.
The two-years monitoring period terminated in December 1995. The Analytical Monitoring Report is written, (dated 24.9.96) with the conclusion: "Overall, this project can be considered a fair success."
The following energy costs are estimated :
Photovoltaic system : 11.2 ECU/kWh
Photovoltaic system (replication): 6.9 ECU/kWh.
139.1 m2 of a vertical wall of a factory are covered with specially designed large area modules. These modules are mounted in front of the concrete wall on a proprietary cladding system using the same fasteners as used by coventional glass cladding, and leaving an air duct between the wall and the facade.
Five panels sizes are used, to fit the dimensions of the existing facade: width 1150 mm, heights: 1631, 1678, 1747, 1939, 1959 mm.
The array design peak power is 12.7 kWp.
Energy produced is fed to mains through inverters.
Nr. subsystems : 5 array sub-fields are mounted with 7.7 kWp on the SW face and 5.0 kWp on the SE face Power subsys. : 7.7 kWp and 5.0 kWp Total power : 12.7 kWp
Backup : grid
Nr. of modules : 70
Module descrip. : Special design, called "OPTISOL" by FLACHGLAS-AG,
Gelsenkirchen. Low iron, high transmission glass, sandwiching polycristalline silicon cells, 100 x 100 mm. 172 to 207 Wp per module.
Connection : Special wiring : The number of the cells in one string of the large area modules is variable in order to achieve the same output voltage. The modules have two strings of cells with independent connections. The strings and modules are coupled in a complicated way to achieve the desired voltage and also to minimise the effect of shading.
Support : on the walls, in form of curtain facade.
Max. pwr. trcker : in the inverters
Chrg controler : none
Battery : none
Inverter : Five inverters PV-WR 1800 of SMA Regelsysteme GmbH are coupled in two sub-systems each with inverter-slave operation.
(90%efficiency at power above 25% of rated).
Inv. in (V) : 80 to 130 V
Inv. out (V) : 230 V, 50 Hz
Inv. power (kW) : nominal rating : 5 x 1.8 kVA
Load descript : grid
Monitoring : Complete monitoring with HP-Vectra (286) with 3 AD
boards and 2 serial interfaces. 5 minute averages of 52 measurement chanels: temperatures, dc-currents (Hall sondes), inverter outputs, meteorological data
Programme(s)
Topic(s)
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
DEM - Demonstration contractsCoordinator
50667 Köln
Germany