Japan Solar Update: No.22 (Dec 5~9, 2022)
Seven BIPV (Building-Integrated PV) located in the center of Milan (within a 20-minute walking distance from Milano Porta Garibaldi railway station)
Short movie:
https://lumen5.com/user/info-5314/bipv-in-milan-part-i-aselg/
In the center of Milan (ISOLA district between Milano Centrale Railway Station and Milano Porta Garibaldi railway station), famous for its historical buildings, art, design, and fashion (The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, Milan Cathedral (Duomo), Milano Fashion Week (Milan Collection), etc.), there are a number of beautiful buildings with elaborately designed with glass facades and other materials. Those buildings, onto which PV systems are integrated, are dotted in such a surrounding. According to what we heard locally, most of these BIPV systems were installed without government or municipal subsidies. They were developed by building owners, designers, and developers. It can be seen that BIPV is incorporated into its architectural design to achieve ZEB, and that the value of combining aesthetic design with eco-energy is being recognized.
Seven BIPV systems are located in the center of Milan
Accenture Milan Office Building
PV modules are installed symmetrically on the south and north walls of the building covering the entire walls from ground level to the top of the building. The total output capacity is 50 kW.
The PV module is made by Sunage SA of Switzerland. Mc-Si solar cells were adopted due to the request for blue color tone. Optimizers are installed to minimize the effects of the north-facing vertical installation and the partial shadows caused by the surrounding buildings. BIPV was installed in the building when it was renovated in 2021.
UniCredit HQ Tower
The canopy surrounding the courtyard with a pond is covered with BIPV modules, representing a waterfall and flowing water. The output capacity of the PV modules for the canopy is 17 kW. In addition, 4 kW of conventional PV modules are installed, bringing the total output capacity to 21 kW.
Sc-Si back-contact solar cells manufactured by SunPower are used (the white ones are dummies for design). The spaces between solar cells are around 4 cm, and the (frameless) double glass structure is adopted to make light-through PV modules. This provides both adequate light shading and a sense of openness. Terminal boxes, cables, and other wiring-related items are housed inside the structural frame. The PV modules are manufactured by EnergyGlass of the USA. The building was completed in 2013.
UnipolSai Tower CMB
The entire building takes the form of a complex truss structure with soft curved surfaces. The PV modules on movable louvers are installed at the top part of the tower that looks as if it has been cut off diagonally. At the top part there is a botanical greenhouse, which is designed to both regulate the amount of sunlight and maximize power generation. The building is still under construction.
Enlarged photo of the top part. The louver plates are long and narrow shape of PV modules with two rows of c-Si solar cells.
Plazzo Lombardia (the main building of the Lombardy regional government)
Wall-integrated PV modules are installed on the higher stories of the main buildings of the Lombardy regional government (two tall buildings in the back).
The solar cells are sc-Si back-contact type. PV module are light-through with large spacing between solar cells.