Successful start of pilot project for energy self-sufficient air dome

Organic photovoltaics specialist Heliatek has announced it has successfully installed its solar film, HeliaFilm, on a PVC-based membrane air dome in Berlin, Germany - opening up a new area of application for BIOPV, building on the company's pioneering work with glass and concrete. The project was implemented together with Paranet Germany, a leading provider of air domes and an important industry partner. Paranet is producing air domes for sport, events or emergency accommodations supporting humanitarian aid missions. The size of the air domes varies from 18 x 18 meters up to 200 x 100 meters. The HeliaFilm has been affixed with an integrated mounting on the outer shell on 50 square meters, in 2 x 2 meter squares. With a total electrical output of 1,4kWp, the current project should provide about 5 percent of the annual energy demand of the air dome. The long-term goal of the cooperation is the ability to set up air domes without any external power supply. Next steps will be the extension of the covered area on the air dome, adding energy storage devices and appropriate control systems. To be totally energy self-sufficient, an air dome might need only a quarter of the totally available surface area covered with Heliafilm. HeliaFilm is perfect for this application because it is ultra lightweight, flexible, and very effective at harvesting solar energy under real world conditions. Compared to standard solar technology the film from Heliatek is less susceptible to temperature changes and orientation to the sun, says the company. Mr. Wowra, managing director, Paranet, said: "With Heliatek's solar films, we will finally be able to offer our customers energy self-sufficient air domes in the future. It was not easy to find a flexible, industry solution for the application on PVC membrane. We are really pleased about the realization of the first project in Berlin together with Heliatek." Combined with HeliaFilms, Paranet air domes will be energy self-sufficient to a large degree and thus make these air domes an absolute novelty. The market launch is planned for 2016. Dr. Thomas Bickl, VP sales and business development: "The addition of PVC membrane to our material portfolio is a major step in implementing Heliatek´s marketing strategy. After the successful market start of HeliaFilm with building materials such as glass and concrete in 2014, we can now serve the PVC membrane segment with PARANET as a renowned partner." BAU, Munich, Booth 241, Hall B2, 19th till the 24th of January, 2015 in Munich, Germany.