Willis Tower in Chicago to Become Vertical Solar Farm

I have waited decades for this tobecome real. Before this is perfected, we will produce power and prevent overheating.

It always an obvious outcome ofthe work and it is now upon us.  As oftenis the case, it was easy to imagine but a bitch to make real.

Once the economics are worked outand proven viable, all buildings will surely retrofit at least their southernexposures.

Chicago’s Willis Tower to Become a Vertical Solar Farm

by Andrew Michler, 03/21/11

filed under: Solar Power,Sustainable Building,Zero energy

http://inhabitat.com/chicagos-willis-tower-to-become-a-vertical-solar-farm/

Chicago’s iconic Willis Tower (formally the Sears Tower)is set to become a massive solar electric plant with the installation of apilot solar electric glass project. The high-profile project on the south sideof the 56th floor will replace the windows with a new type of photovoltaicglass developed by Pythagoras Solar which preserves daylighting and views whilereducing heat gain and producing the same energy as a conventional solar panel.The project could grow to 2 MW in size — which is comparable to a 10 acre fieldof solar panels — turning North America’stallest building into a huge urban vertical solar farm.

 The project is a collaborationbetween the tower’s owner and the manufacturer to prove the viability of thebuilding integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) system, which will also save energy byreducing heat gain and cooling costs. The new windows, dubbed high powerdensity photovoltaic glass units (PVGU), are a clever hybrid technology that laystypical monocrystalline silicon solar cell horizontally between two layers ofglass to form an individual tile. An internal plastic reflective prism directsangled sunlight onto the solar cells but allows diffuse daylight and horizontallight through. Think of it as a louvered shade which allows for views but cutsout the harsh direct sun.

The manufacturer claims that the vertically integrated solar cells willproduce the same amount of energy as normal rooftop-mounted solar panels. Thisis great news for cities that have precious little rooftop space and toweringwalls of glass. The product is also a potential breakthrough in energyefficiency in glass towers, where solar heat gain is the bane ofenergy-efficient design.