Environmentally Energetic Solar Power Glass Facade

In recent years, several techniques for capture and use of solar energy have been developed. This technology is being bettered by the day, along with a growing awareness of the benefits of the use of solar energy.

Glass in architecture is one of the major driving forces of this change in the attitude towards the harnessing and use of solar energy. The latest development is the creation of a system called Integrated Concentrating (IC) Solar Facade System that tracks and utilizes solar energy from glass façades for generating electricity.

This advanced façade system was developed by the Center for Architecture Science and Ecology (CASE). The system is architecturally integrated into the facades and roof atria of buildings to provide optimum outside view and flood the interiors with daylight.

The system is made up of rows of pyramid-shaped glass receptors, which change their direction frequently to keep track of the sunlight. All the energy is stored in a small photovoltaic cell built in the center of each pyramid. The transparent design not only makes the system attractive, but also allows light to pass through the system more effectively for energy storage.           

The IC Solar System facade produces electricity with a PV cell that captures much of the solar energy that is used for purposes such as heating water for domestic purposes, space heating (or, possibly, for distributed absorption refrigeration cooling) and reduction of solar heat gain by the building. The glass pyramid shape actually serves to magnify light and increase the natural lighting inside a building while decreasing the need for artificial light. The design and operation of the system permits direct partial views of the outside to the building's inhabitants.

Working Process:

The advanced feature is the miniaturized concentrator solar cell, which uses a lens with concentric grooves to focus collected light. Even though it is only the size of a postage stamp compared to the usual solar collector area that spans 4 x 4 feet, the cell is much more efficient in collecting and reusing solar energy. The lens focuses incoming sunlight onto the solar cell. Microchannels at the base of the module transfer energy in the form of heat and light to wires contained inside. Each vertical stack of lenses rolls and tilts like a track blind, keeping the surface of the lenses faced to incoming sunlight as the sun changes position in the sky throughout the day.

This modular design can also be attached to a range of existing building structures and also implemented into new designs. This system requires very less maintenance and is very useful for regions with hot climate.