by Shane Henson — August 31, 2011— Curtain wall manufacturer Focus Materials Inc. is now offering Focus Wall custom-fabricated glass-and-aluminum curtain walls with built-in thin-film solar technology from Abound Solar, along with eIQ Energy’s vBoost modules.
According to Focus Materials, Abound Solar’s semi-transparent PV technology performs well in both high-temperature and low-light conditions and, when combined with eIQ Energy’s constant-voltage vBoost converters, adds only about 30 percent to the cost of standard curtain wall systems. Available both for new building construction and renovations, this unique solution uses natural solar energy to generate a significant amount of buildings’ electricity needs.
The solution could significantly help architecture and design professionals as well as facilities owners and managers wanting to reduce their building’s energy consumption through a greener product, whether at the construction stage or as a renovation.
Focus Materials integrates eIQ Energy’s vBoost modules and wiring into each panel’s glass support structure, out of building users’ sight, along with snap-together electrical connectors that make panels easy to install and connect to the larger solar system. Integrating the components within the glass support structure ensures that the aesthetics of the curtain wall remain uncompromised.
Conventional solar arrays consist of closely matched PV panels wired in series. But shading, soiling, and other issues often reduce individual panels’ electricity output, which in a series architecture can reduce the entire system’s energy output by up to 30 percent, notes the company. With eIQ Energy’s Parallel Solar architecture, underperforming panels no longer drag down the entire system. Each panel maintains its own peak performance, while the vBoost modules’ predictable, constant voltage output allows the system’s inverter to run at optimal efficiency. This patent-pending power management and architectural approach reduces the complexity of system design and wiring, resulting in lower materials, labor and overall installation costs.
