Joint project: Design-PV – Development of a photovoltaic-activated design façade

The current approach of attaching standard PV modules to the surface of buildings often encounters acceptance problems for aesthetic reasons, as they do not meet the requirement for a uniformly designed building envelope. The aim of this project is to combine established façade elements and PV-active elements while maintaining a uniform appearance, particularly with regard to economic aspects and the refurbishment of existing buildings. In order to achieve this, this project is developing processes for the simple and cost-effective design of PV-active and passive façade elements using decorative films. For this purpose, long-term stable ETFE substrate films that are established in architecture are designed using printing processes and textured coatings. The aim of the design is not only to enable plain or roughly patterned decors. The combination of colored decor and haptically perceptible structure by means of visually effective, three-dimensional structuring is intended to create surfaces that are identical to nature. The use of these films as front side protection for lightweight PV modules is also being investigated. In order to meet the requirements of renovating existing buildings, adapted production processes are also being developed for the automated and cost-effective manufacture of PV modules in variable sizes. ISFH is investigating the use of decorative films for PV applications, determining their optical properties, testing the reliability of the designed PV modules and evaluating the energy generated. In addition, adapted processes for the flexible production of modules in adapted sizes are being developed and transferred to industrial systems. Another focus is on the development of lightweight metal-foil modules.