All over the world people are moving to the cities. This increases the demand for eco-friendly and locally-sourced electricity and is the basis for the research project called PV-Adapt.
One answer to new energy demands is to install building-integrated PV (BIPV) cells, either in the form of roof tiles or facade elements. However, the feasibility of this will require lower costs and more efficient output.
Building-integrated PV cells that supply both heat and electricity have been developed at SINTEF’s solar cell lab in Trondheim. The project has 17 other partners in ten countries.
“Our aim is to manufacture self-cooling, building-integrated PV cells. Self-cooling will dramatically increase the electrical output of the cells,” explains SINTEF Project Manager Martin Bellmann.
The PV cells become very hot even if the outside temperature isn’t particularly high.
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