Organic solar cell technology developer Konarka is teaming up with several partners, including a prestigious glass producer, to bring building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs) to market.
Bayer Sheet Europe and Bischoff Glastechnik will integrate organic solar cells supplied by Konarka into building façades. Cabling and wire technology supplier Lapp will supply connection technology for the BIPV applications.
Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy and Energy System Technology (IWES) is also a partner on the initiative.
Lapp, through its subsidiary Lapp Kabel, will develop the entire connection technology for the modules. The other partners will integrate the organic cells into their construction materials. Fraunhofer IWES will support the partners by certifying and testing the construction products. The first pilot projects should begin in the near future.
Curtain wall
Konarka was founded in 2001 to commercialise organic solar cell technology and opened its production facility in 2008. The company is building on its existing work to develop BIPV applications for its technology. Konarka's previous partnerships in the area of BIPV include a collaboration with US skylight and glazing provider Arch Aluminum & Glass.
In 2009 the two companies announced they were developing a curtain wall application for Konarka's solar cells, which are produced as thin flexible sheets.
In June 2011 Konarka unveiled the largest organic PV installation of its kind and the first OPV semi-transparent BIPV curtain wall. The installation at the company's New Bedford, Massachusetts facility is based on glass panels laminated with semi-transparent solar modules. In the plant Konarka's Power Plastic is installed in both south and east facing walls.
+Plastic Electronics will be appearing at the Organic Photovoltaics 2011 conference on 20-21 September in Philadelpia, the US.
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Konarka
Website for the developers of organic solar cells
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Organic Photovoltaics 2011
Uniting technology developers, investors and users for a candid and comprehensive discussion of the opportunities and challenges affecting the organic photovoltaics industry
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Building design and the potential of third-generation solar cells
Ingo B Hagemann, architect and building-integrated photovoltaic consultant, discusses opportunities and challenges for organic solar cells and other third-generation photovoltaic technologies in the building and construction industry
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