Solar films enable green building solution

The HeliaFilm concrete façade was installed on an East, West and South facing façade in order to demonstrate the superior harvesting factor under various mounting conditions that often occur in real world BIPV applications. For comparison purposes, power generated by each façade is being individually monitored. The installed capacity of around 20 square metres amounts to 0.62kWp and the generated energy is used internally.

A development partnership for a green building solution based on HeliaFilm together with structured matrices of concrete, using building envelopes to generate power, has been agreed on by RECKLI and Heliatek. 

Heliatek are marketing HeliaFilm with different building materials such as glass, concrete and PVC membranes, and closely working together with industrial partners for the different building materials. 

"Heliatek's leading OPV technology is working perfectly in combination with the concrete façade application for BiPV, since it is ultra-light, thin and highly efficient. The harvesting power remains strong even under suboptimal light and temperature conditions. Thus the film can be directly attached to the concrete and no extra cooling or ventilation system is needed. With this BiPV solution, the CO² balance will be drastically increased, without neglecting aesthetic aspects, " said Dr. Bernd Trompeter, Managing Director, RECKLI.

"HeliaFilm combined with Reckli's architectural concrete solutions are delivering a long-sought solution for Chinese architects and building planners. Concrete structures are being enriched with HeliaFilm to generate power and at the same time keeping an aesthetical appeal," commented Dr. Thomas Bickl, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Heliatek. "This pioneering installation will set the precedent for similar BIOPV installations around the world to achieve the requirements for carbon neutral buildings that are self-sufficient in generating their own power requirements."