Within the first five years the renewable technology is expected to have paid for itself and throughout its 25 year performance guaranteed lifetime, should generate CO2 savings exceeding 200 tonnes and produce 400 MWh of energy – enough to power an electric car for 1.6 million miles (1).
The company behind the glass, Polysolar Ltd, is a Cambrige Cleantechnology developer and its founder Hamish Watson said: ‘We are delighted to be able to showcase how cost effective and genuinely practical our renewable technology is.
‘Our products cross the domain of renewable energy and building materials and are ideally suited to this application. The translucent glass can create clean energy in low light conditions and also from both sides of the panel, capturing much more of the sun’s energy.’
Watson emphasised the benefits of the glass extended beyond direct electricity generation: ‘By allowing natural light through to the forecourt area, the glass can significantly reduce the amount of lighting energy required during the day.’
With the canopy completion anticipated in early summer 2013, it is hoped that this will be the first of many fabulous looking and pioneering petrol canopies across the UK and beyond. Polysolar products are available to view with their partner trade distributor, Travis Perkins at Ecobuild 2013 in the Excel centre London, 5-7 March.
Polysolar technology
From a technical perspective, the Polysolar technology is based on globally proven amorphous silicon thin-film. The lack of harmful heavy metals or rare earth ingredients as found in other thin-film technologies, the amorphous silicon glazing is an exceptional all-round ‘clean’ technology having the least overall impact on the planet of all PV technologies. Indeed, even the energy requirement to make the glazing is recouped with the first 24months of operation.
Polysolar are progressing with numerous building programmes to provide Building Integrated photovoltaic solutions that help clients reach stringent building energy regulations emerging worldwide. With their partners Barclay Electrical, they are able to package together a glazing and LED lighting solution to offer exceptional savings to clients. The Polysolar product line is perfectly suited not only for the Sainsbury’s canopy roof but also the many building vertical surfaces throughout the world as facde and curtain wall material. Polysolar glazing can be applied in diverse applications from office building frontages to commercial glasshouses, the company has even been contacted by a Japanese client to provide a renewable energy roof for a 300m2 cattle barn.
(1) Based on Nissan Leaf 25kWh per charge and 109miles range see http://www.nissan.eu/GB/en/vehicles/electric-vehicles/electric-leaf/leaf.html accessed 21 Feb 2013
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For further information contact:
Polysolar Ltd
Hauser Forum
Charles Babbage Road
Cambridge CB3 0GT, UK
Tel: 01223911534
Email: info@polysolar.co.uk
Web: www.polysolar.co.uk
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