Reinhard Wecker – Advanced Solar Consulting
Reinhard Wecker – Advanced Solar Consulting
Today, there is demand for aesthetically appealing, technically robust solar module solutions that not only look futuristic, but also deliver reliable added value in the tough everyday conditions of cars, commercial vehicles, buses, trailers and trains – in terms of range, comfort and sustainability alike.
Building-integrated photovoltaics is currently evolving from a niche market to the new norm: the global BIPV market is growing at double-digit rates, Europe holds a leading share, and EU regulations are gradually making solar power on and in buildings mandatory.
Electromobility is changing rapidly: in addition to ever-improving batteries, many manufacturers and suppliers are focusing on one question – how can solar energy be intelligently integrated directly into vehicles? From solar roofs on cars, trailers and city buses to shuttles and trains, new concepts are emerging in which special modules extend range, reduce the load on on-board power systems and improve CO₂ balances. Studies by Fraunhofer ISE show that roof-mounted solar modules on electric vehicles can supply several hundred kilowatt hours of electricity per year in everyday European use – enough for around 3,000 additional kilometres of driving. At the same time, the market for solar sunroofs in electric vehicles is growing at high double-digit rates.
This is the basis for my consulting services: over 30 years of experience with curved, domed and flat special modules for vehicle roofs and bodies, from early ‘bubble’ solar roofs to current glass-glass and lightweight construction concepts. This includes references from projects in which spherically curved solar roof systems were developed and put into series production for sports cars such as the Fisker Karma and later the KARMA Revero – with module outputs of up to 200 watts and strong curvature radii that were considered the benchmark at the time. Experience from applications on commuter trains and shuttles with flat, partially semi-transparent roof modules, which have been in everyday use in Europe for years, is also incorporated.
Take advantage of my experience in the areas of solar car roofs for sliding and panoramic roofs, full-roof systems for hybrid and electric vehicles, solutions for stationary ventilation, on-board power supply and traction support – as transparent or semi-transparent glass roofs, double thin-glass modules, ESG superstructures or lightweight composite systems.
As an engineer, I have been involved in coordinating cell technology, wiring, glass construction, cable routing and electronics with body development, E/E architecture and manufacturing processes – including evaluating performance, weight, safety and costs.
In thermal baths in the Valais Alps, a surrounding parapet was designed as a continuous solar railing. Instead of hiding the modules, the solar appearance remains deliberately visible and complements the modern architecture – the glass balustrade functions both as fall protection and as an energy generator for the owners’ association.
With increasing demands for energy efficiency and self-generated electricity in apartment buildings, balustrades, parapets and balcony front edges are becoming valuable PV surfaces. This reference shows:
how a standard feature (railing/parapet) can be transformed into an active energy component,
how visible solar optics can be implemented in a high-quality and ‘architecturally compatible’ manner,
how roof and façade PV can be combined to cover a building’s own energy needs.
This is a strong selling point and differentiator, especially for high-end residential complexes and hotels in prime locations.
In Winterthur, a balcony railing was installed that looks like wood but is actually made of printed laminated glass solar modules. The modules take on the appearance of a wooden balcony while also supplying electricity; from the perspective of residents and passers-by, the PV system remains virtually invisible.
Many cities and building owners today want to use solar energy on buildings without changing the appearance of the façade – for example, in established neighbourhoods or in high-quality residential buildings. Coloured and textured modules are therefore increasingly in demand. Here you can see:
that solar modules can be integrated into wood, stone or other surface finishes,
how PV can be used even where classic ‘black modules’ would be politically or design-wise difficult to implement,
how the concerns of architects, design committees and owners can be alleviated without sacrificing additional energy yields.
A tool for reconciling solar obligations and design requirements.
During an energy-efficient renovation of a residential building from the 1960s in Bern, new prefabricated balconies with integrated PV parapets were installed. The solar modules are colour-coordinated, provide privacy and generate electricity for the building’s own use.
Renovation issues, ‘balcony power plants’ and tenant electricity models are currently high on the agenda – especially in existing buildings where roof space is limited. For construction companies, this project shows:
how balcony renovations and energy upgrades can be combined in a single step,
how prefabricated balcony systems with PV work as a scalable solution for entire housing estates,
how additional functionality (energy, privacy, design) significantly increases the economic benefits of a construction project that is already planned.
This is of interest to companies that are involved in multi-storey residential construction and serial renovation and want to expand their solutions to include building-integrated PV.
Several hundred glass-glass modules were integrated into a folded metal facade for a large administrative building. This creates a solar shell with an output of over 200 kWp covering around 13,000 m² – designed as a zero-energy or low-energy building. Narrow cell spacing allows the wooden elements behind to shine through, while the facade remains architecturally striking and at the same time provides a significant amount of electricity for the building’s own use.
The European market for building-integrated photovoltaics is growing strongly; in Europe alone, double-digit growth is expected for BIPV by 2030. At the same time, the EU is tightening requirements with the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD): new buildings are to be zero-emission buildings and solar-ready or equipped with solar technology.
This reference is interesting for construction companies because it shows
how large-format solar glass facades can be combined with metal and wood construction,
how facade PV helps to meet future zero-emission requirements and self-consumption quotas,
and that vertical PV surfaces are now more economical than long assumed thanks to improved technology and operating data.
Hundreds of special modules were installed as a rear-ventilated shingle facade on a parking garage in a high mountain location. Over a length of approximately 200 meters, the facade generates around 100 kW of solar power, which can be used to charge electric vehicles after the uphill drive. The PV elements provide weather protection, design, and energy generation in a single component.
With the electrification of transport, the demand for charging infrastructure in parking garages and parking decks is growing massively. It is advisable to systematically integrate solar technology into building envelopes and parking structures instead of just installing classic roof systems.
This clearly shows:
how parking garages, visitor centers, or logistics locations can supply charging points via solar facades,
how PV can be integrated into durable, robust facade systems (shingles, rear-ventilated cold facades),
how infrastructure projects in tourism or transportation can be positioned as “climate protection beacons” through visible solar elements.
The BIPV market in Europe is growing dynamically; studies consider this to be an important future field for energy-generating building materials. At the same time, research shows that coloured and well-integrated façade modules now achieve up to 90% of the yield of conventional modules and significantly increase acceptance in neighbourhoods.
This reference illustrates
how a ‘solar cold facade’ can be used as a standardisable product for new buildings and serial renovation,
how energy generation, thermal insulation and design can be combined in a single system that can be clearly defined in tenders and calculations,
how coloured and textured modules can be used to equip even sophisticated architecture or more sensitive buildings (city centres, neighbourhood renovations) with PV without disrupting the appearance of the facade.