View
212
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Solar NEWS
10 reFOCUS May/June 2005 www.re-focus.net
Two major BIPV projects have
been completed recently in the
UK at a County Council owned
building and a further education
college. A 105 kWp building inte-
grated PV (BIPV) project has been
completed at the Warwickshire
County Council-owned Optima
Innovation Centre at Elliot Park in
Nuneaton, UK representing the
largest PV (photovoltaic) installa-
tion in the region.
The BIPV project uses BP
PowerGlaz building-integrated
laminate panels installed on the
southern facing façade of the
building together with a Kalzip
construction system housing 573
solar panels on either side of the
East and West facing roof. It will
generate solar electricity for up to
46 businesses based at the centre.
It is expected to produce a total
annual general output of 68,700
kWh which is roughly the equiva-
lent to the electricity consumption
of 23 typical UK houses.
Environmental benefits also
include an annual saving of 48
tonnes carbon dioxide emissions
by the solar power system. The
south facing façade of the build-
ing is fitted with 52 bespoke
PowerGlaz units produced by BP's
partner-manufacturers Romag.
They fit onto a vertical screen
frame which has high visual
impact as well as additional shad-
ing control. In what is a UK 'first'
for the solar industry, the façade
PowerGlaz panels have been
mounted onto a curved array,
using bolted glass technology.
The £440,000 solar installation
incorporates a number of innova-
tive features including enhanced
data logging technology where
for first time the solar system can
interface with the building main-
tenance system. At the touch of a
button readily accessible data is
available, including electricity pro-
duction and performance of the
installation as well as important
meteorological information on
temperature and hours of sun-
shine.
Elsewhere in the UK, Park Lane
College, Leeds, the largest fur-
ther education college in West
Yorkshire, UK has had solar
glass incorporated into the
structure of a £6.9 million
extension to increase environ-
mental performance of the
building alongside a number of
other similar initiatives. The
building incorporates 472m² of
BP PowerGlaz on the south ele-
vation, providing approximately
15% of the building's energy
requirements.
Developed by BP Solar and
Romag, leading manufacturers
of specialised laminated glass,
PowerGlaz is essentially high
performance solar electric cells
laminated between glass panels.
Launched in the UK, last year,
the joint-technology according
to the manufacturers, represents
a significant leap forward in the
evolution of solar technology by
creating a genuine building
product that will be both eco-
nomical and widely available to
the architectural and construc-
tion sectors. www.bpsolar.com
UK BIPV projects up and running
WorldWater & Power
Corporation and its Joint
Venture partner Conti
Corporation have been awarded
a contract from the Atlantic
County (NJ) Utilities Authority
(ACUA) to install a $3.25 million
solar energy system at a waste-
water treatment plant near
Atlantic City, USA.
Under the joint venture agree-
ment, WorldWater & Power will
supply all solar-related equip-
ment, engineering and design
services, and Conti will provide
construction services and con-
struction project management.
First phase of the project is
expected to be completed by
August 1 and full completion by
October 1, 2005. The contract
will require a $1.9 million rebate
from the NJ Board of Public
Utilities Office of Clean Energy
and a low-interest loan from the
NJ Environmental Infrastructure
Trust program. The system will
be comprised of several different
arrays, on building rooftops,
raised parking structures, and
ground mounted. Collectively
the arrays are expected to pro-
vide an annual output of
660,000 kilowatt hours in
clean, economical energy.
www.worldwater.com
$3.25m Solar PV contract for US wastewater plant
The 105 kWp BIPV Optima Centre in Nuneaton, UK
A college in Leeds, UK incorporating 472m² of BP PowerGlaz