Solar Cladding
The Harris Acedemy
Application:
Solar photovoltaics (PV) can be used as conventional rainscreen cladding panels with the unique design advantage that they generate power from otherwise redundant spaces. PV panels offer a seriously competitive alternative to conventional cladding materials, providing similar aesthetics to marble and bronze at a fraction of the cost.
Using photovoltaics as rainscreen cladding is a tried and tested solution; panels are either pre-assembled and hoisted into position on a frame, or hung and secured individually on smaller applications.
Solarcentury have good experience of working with PV cladding, having designed and installed the worlds largest commercial solar rainscreen cladding system on the CIS Tower in Manchester.
Solar cladding is a unique product when compared to common cladding materials, which rapidly repays the energy consumed during manufacture. From the moment the system is commissioned solar cladding transforms a building into a clean, distributed power station.
Solar Cladding on the Manchester College of Arts and Technology
Features:
• Cost-effective – Photovoltaic (PV) cladding panels are cheaper than many commonly used high quality cladding materials
• Off set building costs – using PV panels in place of conventional cladding materials helps offset costs for micro generation, since some form of cladding material would have been specified from the outset.
• Free energy – solar cladding provides clean energy as a by-product of the building façade
• Aesthetics – solar PV panels come in a variety of shapes and colours to help create stunning buildings
• Tried and tested – rainscreen cladding technology is well understood by construction professionals
• Standardised details - Solarcentury have developed effective solutions for cable management and panel interconnection
• Quick installation – off site assembly and pre-fabrication of cladding elements can yield rapid installation times
• Differentiate your brand – solar facades create striking buildings, which highlight environmental commitments to your stakeholders and potential partners
• Power output from the modules is guaranteed for 25 years
