French school showcases world’s largest array of organic solar cell film
The installation in La Rochelle covers 500 m² on on two different roof surfaces using over 400 lengths of lightweight film from German supplier Heliatek. The roof surfaces were too fragile for silicon solar cells, and the project demonstrates the ability to retrofit existing buildings with organic solar film. With an installed power of 22.5 kWp, the films will generate around 24 MWh of electricity each year, equivalent to the annual consumption of 5 households or 15% of the school’s electricity demand.
This is the first time this lightweight HeliaSol system has been used. This has self-adhesive backing and preconfigured wiring so that it can be mounted quickly onto existing roof surfaces and only needs to be electrically connected. A team of six installed all the film in just eight hours.
The school installation is the first step for HeliaSol, which the company sees as the route to retrofitting roof surfaces and facades on existing industrial and commercial buildings with lightweight solar cells.
“Light roofs, which usually do not allow for standard PV technology, can now produce green electricity with our HeliaSol. This school reduces its carbon footprint and contributes to a more sustainable energy production,” said Thibaud Le Séguillon, CEO of Heliatek which manufactures the film at a plant in Saxony.
The project was in collaboration with French energy supplier ENGIE. “Almost half of the energy consumption comes from the buildings sector. New, and above all existing buildings, will have to reduce energy consumption and make energy use far more efficient,” said Isabelle Kocher, CEO of ENGIE. “Buildings that couldn’t previously be used for energy production will be able to cover their own electricity requirements in the future. With Heliatek’s technology, they will contribute to a decentralized and green energy supply,” .
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- HELIATEK TESTS OUT SOLAR FILM ON LAB BUILDING
- GERMAN PROJECT PUTS FILM AND SILICON SOLAR CELLS SIDE-BY-SIDE
- POWER TRENDS: HELIATEK ON A ROLL
- HELIATEK RAISES €80M FOR HIGH VOLUME ROLL-TO-ROLL SOLAR FILM PRODUCTION
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