EQUINOX : INTEGRATED PV FOR THE OFFICE OF TOMORROW

Objectif

The Equinox building will demonstrate a "state of the art" PV facade integrated into a prestige office development in a prime location in London, which supplies electricity for use in the building. Whilst each element of the building (lighting, heating, cooling, ventilation) is being designed to minimise its energy requirements whilst maintaining a high quality internal environment, there is still a continual demand for electricity some of which will be supplied by the most appropriate building renewable energy source, integrated photovoltaics. The form and positioning of the building on the site has been designed to give a large south facing facade, which is virtually unshaded. The PV integrated facade will thus demonstrate how the facade of a building can in addition to the normal functions also provide optimised solar shading plus PV electricity generation. An innovative cool water storage system will also be demonstrated. A high quality of visual integration will provide a magnificent demonstration of PV application for both the building occupants and for those who see the building from the outside. The building is likely to become a landmark building.
The PV area of around 2300 m² will give a peak output of 194 kW (DC) and is expected to generate 126000 kWh of AC electrical energy per year.
The site of the Equinox building is an existing mixed use site adjacent to the M4 motorway in Brentford, west London. The buildings on the site which include a multi storey office block and several low rise buildings, are to be demolished and the area cleared and lanscaped to provide the right setting for the new building. The 12 storey building has been designed to be triangular in shape with an open atrium on one side and with another side facing due south. It is this south face that has been designed to be the solar facade as it has little overshading and thus combines the need for shading, with ideal conditions for integrating electricity generating PV arrays. The whole concept of the office is to highly energy efficient and a whole package of energy saving measures has been designed into the building.These include use of thermal mass for night cooling; optimised building orientation to minimise solar gain; atrium as a buffer space and daylighting feature; reduced heat loss via reduced air leakage and high insulation standards; a group coupled heating and cooling system; availability of a displacement ventilation system; storage of energy in chiller spray tanks. A wind generator is also currently being considered.
The technologies being demonstrated here are the integration of Photovoltaic generation in a new office building and the efficient use of the generated electricity within the building, both by direct use and storage via chilled water where excess electricity is available. The PV facade will be the largest in the UK at around 3800 m² (2300 m² of embedded PV), it faces due south and the building has been designed from the start to integrate this facade both architecturally and functionally. The latest facade technology designed by Schueco will incorporate new large scale PV cells, local string inverters and a double glazed glued structural glazing unit, to simplify and reduce costs of installation. Electricity generate surplus to the requirements of the building itself, will be used to make and store chilled water for later use in cooling the building, thus maximising the local use of the PV electricity. Any surplus electricity will be sold to the National Grid.

Champ scientifique

Programme(s)

FP4-NNE-THERMIE C - Specific programme for research and technological development, including demonstration in the field of non-nuclear energy, 1994-1998

Thème(s)

3.1 - PHOTOVOLTAIC

Appel à propositions

Data not available

Régime de financement

DEM - Demonstration contracts

Coordinateur

AKELER DEVELOPMENTS LTD

Contribution de l’UE

Aucune donnée

Adresse

LANSDOWNE HOUSE BERKELEY SQUARE 57
W1X5DH London
Royaume-Uni

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