 |
Reuters News has combined solar technology and architecture to inspire creativity. A novel design at Intersolar North America was eye-catching: the use of honeycombed solar panels replaced the exterior walls of the building.
The name of this solar panel, called BeeHive PV, comes from SolarOr, an Israeli company. SolarOr, who just completed this design, hopes to attract investors and partners to bring it to market and carry out demonstration projects.
Chief Operating Officer Avi Sasi told reporters at Intersolar's booth that Beehive PV is SolarOr's first product; the company was established in December 2007 and hopes to raise $5 million in funding.
Sasi showed the reporter a small sample of the battery panel. It consists of a double-layer glass clip that looks like the cross section of the honeycomb. The honeycomb is made of polymethyl methacrylate, and a hexagonal silicon cell is installed in each hexagonal chamber. Sasi said that the hexagonal design gathers 2.5 times more sunlight than normal light.
Assuming a battery conversion rate of 14%, one square meter of panel can generate 140 watts of electricity. The charm of combining solar technology with architecture is that it can both insulate and produce clean energy.
However, this design cannot be applied immediately. The reason is that architects have always been very harsh about the appearance of solar equipment used in construction. The common glass walls of commercial buildings give a refreshing feeling. Usually, these glasses are colored because they reduce some of the light and heat. At the same time, these colors allow designers more creative space.
Dark blue or black batteries used in traditional solar panels are mounted on white polyethylene compounds. They produce energy, but they also block the sun. Some producers of commercial glass enclose solar cells or separate the cells so that sunlight enters the room. However, this approach makes the incoming sunlight look like a spotlight and it cannot diverge to illuminate the entire room. Still other manufacturers are studying the use of different materials to make batteries as transparent as possible.
SolarOr's hive design goes its own way, using small prisms to reflect light onto the battery while also allowing light to penetrate the solar panel. Sasi thinks that this design can win the heart of architects: “Architects will not make concessions on architectural aesthetics, but this design is very aesthetic.â€
In order to maximize the absorption of sunlight, this solar panel for construction needs to be installed in a south facing location or on a roof. Any shadow, such as the blockage of surrounding buildings, will cause a significant reduction in power generation.
Rooftop solar power plants also need to be raked to get maximum sunlight. Solar panels are generally erected, however, SlarOr's honeycomb designs can change the tilt angle. Therefore, users can change their inclination according to the needs of the building.
For those who want to get a return in the short term, building solar power systems are not attractive. But architects and building owners are more inclined to use electricity production as an extra source of income rather than a major goal, which traditional glass facades cannot afford.
SolarOr is one of the many companies that design optical and solar cell glass sandwich power generation. Another Israeli company, Pythagoras Solar, has also been working on this design and has recently obtained GE's $100,000 innovation award. (Translated by Veronica)
Steel Wire,Spring Steel Wire,Stainless Steel Wire
Kaiwei Stainless Steel Products Co., Ltd. , http://www.jswirerod.com