An innovative Cambridge-based developer and manufacturer of photovoltaic (PV) glass, Polysolar, has applied its transparent solar panels to develop greenhouses, orangeries, car ports, balustrades, canopies, lean-to shelters and garden offices.
Just imagine a glasshouse that not only protects your plants but also enables you to generate electricity, not just in direct sunlight but also on cloudy days, a familiar situation in the UK! Polysolar’s transparent solar panels have been tested in the Solar Farm at Sheffield University for almost 18 months and have shown to produce up to 25% more electricity than conventional solar panels. In addition, the tinted PV glass lets light through for photosynthesis while it cuts out the ultraviolet wavelengths, preventing scorching of plants and helping to maintain a more constant temperature.
The electricity generated from these photovoltaic solar panels are eligible for Feed-in-Tariff (FiT), which is a payment by the electricity utility for the power generated by the householder from their solar PV system for 25 years. Even with the recent Government halving of the Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) the return on investment remains favourable or comparable to getting a free greenhouse over its lifetime.
To make PV economically viable as a domestic power source without subsidies, PV needs to perform multiple functions - not just electricity generation. In other words it needs to act as a building material in its own right, substituting for existing building materials and, therefore, representing only a marginal additional cost, rather than a resource wasteful ‘tack-on’ solution. This is known as Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) - currently the fastest growing segment on the PV market.
Polysolar, in addition to supplying its PV glass into the architectural construction industry has now launched a range of domestic greenhouses, carports and shelter solutions that enable householders to benefit from the multiple functions and cost savings of BIPV.
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For many homeowners putting conventional PV panels on the roof may not be possible for aesthetic, planning or positioning reasons but putting, for example, a solar PV greenhouse in the garden can “kill two birds with one stone”. You get an effective PV system to power the home and a fully functional greenhouse in which to grow your plants!
As Edison once said "I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that." - Thomas Edison, 1931
For further information visit: www.solarpvgreenhouse.com or www.polysolar.co.uk or contact: Jody Chatterjee: jody.chatterjee@polysolar.co.uk or M: 07887 691150
Polysolar is an award-winning Cambridge company developing and producing advanced photovoltaic technologies for building integrated applications (BIPV). The company was founded in 2007 by a group of experienced entrepreneurs with expertise and experience of renewable energy and Cleantech. The company works closely with architects, engineers and project developers.
Polysolar is a world leader in developing next generation large area printed organic polymer photovoltaic devices. Our R&D division has partnered with leading European glass and chemicals companies to develop low cost, clear PV window glass.
Polysolar’s BIPV products range from PV glass for pitched , and flat roofs, rain screen wall cladding, transparent PV glass for facades for office buildings, schools, hospitals and shopping malls to solar glass for greenhouses, carports, canopies, orangeries, atria, conservatories, balustrades and bus shelters.
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Polysolar Limited
Hauser Forum, Charles Babbage Road,
Cambridge, CB3 0GT, UK
Tel: 01223-911534