Award for zero-energy house with building-integrated photovoltaics by Sunways

At the presentation of the “German Solar Prizes” a few days ago, one of the awards went to a zero-energy house in Tuebingen/Germany featuring photovoltaics that had been planned and produced by Sunways AG. As general contractor, Sunways supplied customised, façade-integrated solar modules and a roof-mounted system. Each year, Eurosolar e.V. awards the “German Solar Prizes” for innovative projects, initiatives and commitments in favour of the use of solar energy. Since 2003, awards have been given to owners or operators of exemplary systems, such as the housing association “elementar” in Tuebingen.

“Elementar” is a joint project by 10 committed building owners. The building owners had the idea of realising a residential building with an annual average primary energy balance of zero and that consequently does not generate any energy costs. Architects Plathe, Schlierf, Sonnenmoser in Tuebingen planned the 10-apartment building in keeping with the Passive House Standard. The main components of the architects’ concept are a simple, compact structure, high-level thermally insulated wood panel wall elements, a photovoltaic system integrated into the south and west façade (78 square metres) and a façade collector for water heating. The roof surface with standard photovoltaic modules (87 square metres) also generates energy.

Specialists of Sunways AG were involved from the early planning stages and were able to develop technically feasible solutions in order to implement the architects’ ideas. Unlike standard photovoltaic modules, building-integrated solar modules can assume additional functions, such as replacing the façade, serving as roof or providing shade.

Michael Wilhelm, Chairman of the Management Board of Sunways AG, commented: “The award-winning project shows that ambitious architecture and the use of photovoltaics to generate power are not mutually exclusive. Sunways is going to further promote the use of building-integrated photovoltaics and to extensively inform architects in the context of professional events. Our experts at Sunways have the technological expertise and the products to realise complex, individual ideas.”