ALUCOBOND photovoltaic façade reduces energy consumption of buildings by utilising natural light
(01/04/2010)

Architects and city planners are under increasing pressure to balance, form, function and sustainability within their designs. By using ALUCOBOND® photovoltaic, they can achieve this balance without having to make compromises in any one area and set new standards in sustainable building design.

ALUCOBOND® photovoltaic is a new façade system that combines the company’s composite panels with photovoltaic modules to meet aesthetic, technical and ecological demands through a single integrated architectural solution.

The ALUCOBOND® photovoltaic systems are flexible enough to be integrated into the most challenging and creative façade formations. Whether a small strip, large oblong section or free geometrical form is required – the number of modules per system can be fully adapted to fit the building style that will meet customer aspirations.

Areas of building façade with good exposure to the sun can be fitted with photovoltaic modules, whereas shaded areas can be fitted with ALUCOBOND® composite panels. They can be used in contrast with adjacent photovoltaic modules or – when using black composite panels – as one visual unit, even in combination with corners, curves and window abutments. This flexibility, along with the availability of many surface finishes and colours, allows freedom in design.

ALUCOBOND® photovoltaic modules are mounted on the same substructures as composite panels and simply joined with prefabricated plug-in cables. This means the entire façade of a building can be clad in an economical and straightforward way, with one simple operating procedure. The flush assembly of photovoltaic modules and composite panels results in smooth, even surfaces.

Building owners will benefit from façade designs rendered in ALUCOBOND® photovoltaic because they will improve the aesthetics of their property, increase its environmental credentials and ensure value retention over a longer period. As an integrated architectural solution, there is a clear and tangible return on investment from using of ALUCOBOND® photovoltaic modules in building design.

ALUCOBOND® photovoltaic is available in two types of module:
· The elegant, homogeneously coloured CIGS Thin Film Module, which offers a sophisticated, aesthetic, architectural style;
· The highly efficient mono-crystalline module with optimized photovoltaic performance.

Both modules can be used to form individually tailored ALUCOBOND® photovoltaic systems that can take account of decisive factors such as the location, orientation, shadow and rear-ventilation.

The new photovoltaic modules have been developed by Alcan in partnership with HaWi Energietechnik, one of the leading German enterprises for photovoltaic systems. This brings together 40 years' of experience in façade-design and panel production, with state-of-the-art expert knowledge in power engineering.

As with all ALUCOBOND® products, architects and designers will benefit from high system reliability, German production quality and professional customer service.