Arup, an international consulting firm specialising in sustainable buildings, showcased its new microalgae façade system at the BouwBeurs international trade show for the construction sector, held 4 February to 9 February in the Netherlands. 

Developed by advanced building materials specialist Pythagoras Solar and glass specialist Guardian Industries, the SunGuard Photovoltaic Glass Unit (PVGU) powered by Pythagoras is said to represent the industry’s first solar window which delivers “triple value” benefits — energy efficiency, PV power generation and transparency.

Sabic’s new solution, the Lexan BIPV panel, can aid architects and installers in creating new designs, easy installations and thermal insulation. The Lexan has been developed in collaboration with Solbian Energie Alternative. The panels include the lightweight, transparent Lexan Thermoclear PC sheet and laminated crystalline cells that are available in different colors and structures.

Velux has developed a window that fits into Schott Solar’s Schott Advance InDax integrated roof installation. The window was especially developed and designed to be used with the roofing system in order to offer a complete BIPV solution to customers. Velux utilized Schott’s seal-less InDax technology for the window and it is equipped with an adapter based on the technology used for the Schott InDax module series. The system was first introduced at last week’s Intersolar Europe and shipping of the new integrated Velux window will commence in the second half of 2012.

Heliatek’s solar films could be used in tinted windows to generate energy, the company has announced. The company is collaborating with different manufacturers of building materials to integrate its solar films into building materials. The transparent solar films might be used in between the sheets of double glazed windows, creating a tinted window look while generating energy.

Solar3D has announced its plan to conduct a study of integrating its 3D solar cells directly into roof tiles, intended to provide information on the economic viability of the 3D solar cells. BIPV roof-mounted systems have a lower power output, partly due to the changing angle of solar irradiation. In theory, the silicon-based, three-dimensional solar cell generates more power due to its wide-angle collection feature.

Solarwatt, based in Dresden, Germany, has launched the new Solarwatt Easy-In roof system, which has been specifically designed for pitched roofs. By replacing conventional roofing tiles, the Easy-In provides a more aesthetical PV solution as well as generating free renewable energy.

Established in the UK solar-renewable market since 1997, Redland has launched a new range of Solar PV Tile systems, offering housing specifiers a fully-integrated PV solution for slate, profile tile and plain tile roofs.

Tenesol has launched a new custom-made dual-glass BIPV module in Europe. The new module gives architects freedom to create tailor-made PV modules to suit individual projects.

The Ecotemis Thin Film Collection glass-glass modules combine high energy performance with customized design to enable versatility and creativity in architectural integration.

Ecotemis have a core competence in manufacturing customized modules according to a company’s specific needs. From the TF Collection, the customer is able to specify a wide range of colors, transparencies, dimensions, light diffusion, electrical output, and thermal and acoustic performance, suited to their project.