Solar panels thriving on campus

The second stage of work has been completed. Two thirds of the ‘Romande Energie-EPFL’ solar energy park are now setup on the campus’ roofs. The park, with a present estimated production of around 1300 megawatt hours per year, incorporates not only conventional installations, but also innovative technologies such as a vertical solar wall and three curved roofs covered with flexible solar cells. The third and final phase of construction will begin this summer.

No less than 1600 square meters of flexible solar cells have been installed on the bowed roofs of the three AA buildings, a great source of pride for EPFL. These adaptable panels are produced in Switzerland by Flexcell, whose original concept has been developped in the Photovoltaics and Thin-Film Electronics, which became part of EPFL in 2009.

Vertical surfaces are also emerging in the world of photovoltaics. On the rooftop of the AI building, Romande Energie and EPFL have chosen to cover a long utility duct’s south facade with solar cells. This technology is produced by the German group Schott. "This is a magnificent demonstration of architectural integration”, says Francis-Luc Perret, Vice President of EPFL, “and the first production steps are rather promising as they open a new area of development for photovoltaics"

By the end of the year the third phase of work will be completed, making this solar energy park one of the largest of its kind in Switzerland. In accordance with its objectives, it will produce about 2000 megawatt hours per year - for a smaller than expected area. "We sized the project according to 2008‘s state of the art, yet the square meter productivity has dramatically increased," notes Francis-Luc Perret. Also, a complementing space dedicated to research, to testing innovative solar technologies and to information will be completed by fall.