Heliatek and Reckli announce new concrete BIPV technology

Heliatek’s OPV panels will be used in Reckli’s concrete walls to create a new solution in BIPV without compromising on aesthetics. Heliatek claims the flexibility of its panels allows them to be fully integrated into the concrete walls whilst maintaining efficiency.

Heliatek states that its panels can resist temperatures of up to 80°C and can still perform efficiently even in low light conditions with a yield advantage of 10-20%, compared to conventional solar panels. The companies have said the new solar-concrete façade will offer numerous advantages. The solar cells are applied to a thin, flexible and lightweight plastic film with a weight of 0.5kg per square metre. By comparison, conventional solar panels weigh an average of between 10kg and 15kg per square metre. Furthermore, the modules are available in various colours and dimensions so they can be integrated unobtrusively into the overall design. The solar cells are then deposited by Heliatek at low temperatures in a roll-to-roll process on a plastic sheet.

Thibaud Le Séguillon, CEO of Heliatek affirms, "While building walls provide a total installation area much larger than roofs, which is currently the most popular place for solar panels to be installed, unattractive design, high prices and limited ability of the system modules are reasons why vertical solar installations are not very common. The direct installation of ultra-light and ultra-thin solar panels into the concrete wall will reduce the cost of installation and make the façade more visually appealing. Our organic solar technology at nearly every exposure condition can be used. Even facades facing north, with a comparatively low level of direct solar radiation, can be used. Thus, the entire building envelope can be used for the production of green solar energy. Since Heliatek provides technology with a number of advantages over traditional solar panels, we are convinced that the Reckli/Heliatek OPV façade solution, according to their market launch in two years, will very quickly be the first choice for architects.”

Dr. Bernd trumpeter, managing director of Reckli adds, "It must be implemented for reasons of environmental protection, an EU directive 2020, which stipulates that all new buildings meet the standards specified for low energy buildings. Our decision to have Heliatek as a partner in our commitment to CO2 gain-poor, environmentally friendly products, had two reasons: first, we were impressed by the efficiency of organic solar technology and secondly, this solar technology is thoroughly green and has no environmental impact. The modules contain no toxic ingredients, the production is not toxic and it requires very little energy and material for the production. In addition, the organic solar modules are disposed of safely, because it is 99% of PET plastic (the same plastic, water bottles are prepared from) and consist of 1% as non-hazardous materials."