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IPV
Integrated
Photovoltaic

A showcase of case studies, 
products and tools for IPV

Supported by:

IEA PVPS Task 15 project aims to create an enabling framework to accelerate the penetration of BIPV products in the global market of renewables.

Operazione co-finanziata dall’Unione europea, Fondo Europeo di Sviluppo Regionale, dallo Stato Italiano, dalla Confederazione elvetica e dai Cantoni nell’ambito del Programma di Cooperazione Interreg V-A Italia-Svizzera

Winter Plus Energy Building Sol’CH

new construction

Building use: 
residential
IPV architectural system: 
opaque roof
rainscreen
IPV integration year: 
between 2021 and 2025
Source: 
BIPV meets History project

Winter Plus Energy Building Sol’CH

Via dal Solch, Poschiavo, Switzerland

Introduction

Stakeholders

Aesthetic integration

Energy integration

Technology integration

Decision making

Lessons learnt

Data

Producer and installer

Map

Author

The Sol’CH project is a BIPV building that is a model in terms of energy, with high-quality architecture that blends harmoniously into the landscape and the urban area. The idea to design the entire envelope with integrated photovoltaic modules had a significant influence on the shape of the new building. It was designed to obtain a south-facing roof with an ideal inclination of 35 degrees, and a south-facing facade with a large surface area for the production of electricity during the winter. A particular characteristic of the Sol'CH project is the energetic use of the north facade and roof, which enhances the overall architectural expression of the building and at the same time contributes to the generation of electricity. The Canton of the Grisons recognised the Sol’CH project, the only one of its kind in Switzerland, as a pilot project, and intends to publish the experience gained during the construction process as well as the monitoring data gathered from the system over the first few years of operation. Furthermore, the project respects all the directives of the Minergie-P and Minergie-A labelling system and has received the relative certification.

STAKEHOLDERS

Main building designer: 

Nadia Vontobel Architekten GmbH

IPV system designer: 

Nadia Vontobel Architekten GmbH

IPV components producer: 

Sunage SA

Product type: 
Address: 
Via Pian Faloppia 11, Balerna, Switzerland
Contact: 
info@sunage.ch +41 (0)916468933
Web: 
https://sunage.ch/en/?l=en
IPV system installer: 

Vassella Energie Sagl

Address: 
Via di Palazz 2, Poschiavo, Switzerland
Contact: 
info@vassella-energie.ch +41 79 590 17 23
Web: 
https://www.vassella-energie.ch/

Caotec SA

Address: 
La Pergola 241, Brusio, Switzerland
Contact: 
info@caotec.ch +41 (0)81 8465552
Web: 
http://www.caotec.ch/de/

The dark matte surface of the photovoltaic façades in shades of anthracite and brown contribute to the building’s blending into the surrounding landscape. The surface of the modules was chosen with a degree of transparency that allows the individual silicon cells to be seen up close, but at the same time creates a homogeneous and matte surface from distance. The shape of the building and the colour of the photovoltaic modules changes according to the point of view and the angle of incidence of the light.

The BIPV system produces 47,770 kWh per year, approximately five times the energy requirements of the home. The energy requirements for appliances, lighting, heating and hot water are extremely low thanks to the 26-cm insulation in the walls and the roof, the use of an efficient heat pump, class-A appliances and LED lighting. Heating and hot water supply is fed by a 3000-l storage tank. Furthermore, in the future it will be possible to use a portion of the electricity produced for the bidirectional charging of electric vehicles, for which two connection points have been set up. The remaining portion is fed back into the local grid.

The BIPV modules serve as both an envelope for the building and for the production of electricity.

The initial idea for the design was that every façade and section of the roof of a new building can also be used to generate electricity as well as serve as an envelope for the building.

One important challenge was to find producers of photovoltaic modules that were prepared to work with us in developing modules of differing shape and colour, as well as a suitable support structure. To identify solutions that are viable from an architectural point of view in the field of BIPV, it is necessary to establish a solid dialogue with suppliers in terms of surfaces, installation and all the details regarding connections. From the outset, it was essential for the entire construction process to be carried out with the utmost precision. This was a challenge for all the companies involved, but the greatest challenge was coordinating the various operations. The project developed contributes to the development of solar energy use, focuses on architectural aspects, and demonstrates what is currently possible from a technical and aesthetic point of view.

PROJECT DATA

Project type: 
Coverage of electric consumption [%]: 
600
BIPV SYSTEM DATA
Architectural system: 
opaque roof, opaque façade
Integration year: 
2021
Active material: 
polycrystalline silicon
System power [kWp]: 
34 (roof), 31.6 (façade)
System area [m²]: 
187 (roof), 284 (façade)
Module dimensions [mm]: 
several
Modules orientation: 
West, South, East, North
Modules tilt [°]: 
35, 55, 90
Annual PV production [kWh]: 
47,770
IPV components producer: 

Sunage SA

Product type: 
Address: 
Via Pian Faloppia 11, Balerna, Switzerland
Contact: 
info@sunage.ch +41 (0)916468933
IPV system installer: 

Vassella Energie Sagl

Address: 
Via di Palazz 2, Poschiavo, Switzerland
Contact: 
info@vassella-energie.ch +41 79 590 17 23

Caotec SA

Address: 
La Pergola 241, Brusio, Switzerland
Contact: 
info@caotec.ch +41 (0)81 8465552
Via dal Solch, Poschiavo, Switzerland

Nadia Vontobel Architekten GmbH