Koblenz – As a leading manufacturer of aluminium and metal roofs, façades and building envelopes, Kalzip has been setting standards in roof-integrated solar energy for over 20 years. With a recent update, the AluPlusSolar system is now also available in various colour options. This enables Kalzip to fit coloured standing seam roofs with virtually invisible photovoltaic modules – an innovation that opens up harmonious roof design possibilities and offers architects even greater freedom when planning aesthetically sophisticated buildings.

Flexibility meets photovoltaics

Solar technology is not merely a supplementary but an indispensable component of sustainable energy generation. There is therefore enormous potential in the installation of PV systems on roof surfaces – whether in new-build or renovation projects. Architects and planners rely on solutions that blend harmoniously into the overall appearance of the existing architecture whilst ensuring maximum functionality.

Kalzip’s AluPlusSolar system allows for design freedom and meets both aesthetic and energy requirements. The seamless standing seam profiles from the Koblenz-based company form the basis of the system. Made from malleable aluminium profiles, they can be used to create a wide variety of roof shapes, whether convex or concave, organic or geometric. The very flat, flexible solar modules adapt to the aluminium profiles. Factory-fitted fastenings ensure a secure installation.

Photovoltaics meets colour

Various colour options are already widely available for Kalzip’s roof and façade products. Now there is also the option of realising roof-integrated solar modules with a matching colour coating. “This opens up countless design options for solar roofs: red barrel roofs are just as possible as listed black gable roofs, on which the PV system is integrated so that it is virtually invisible. Another advantage here is the low weight: at just five kilograms per square metre, the AluPlusSolar profiles are a real game-changer for renovation projects,” explains Heiko Zadow, specialist for PV and façade systems at Kalzip.

Colour meets function

The solar modules used consist of glass-fibre-reinforced plastic and a patented glass-fibre fabric. The monocrystalline cells used ensure particularly high performance and manage to convert over 22 per cent of light energy into electricity. There is no loss of performance with the black version of the modules. Depending on the brightness of the chosen colour shade, a percentage reduction in standard output of 140 Wp is to be expected due to the associated reflection.

Invisible solar energy for the winery

A particularly successful example of solar architecture can be found not far from Lake Garda in Italy: for 250 years, the Boscaini family has been producing their traditional Italian wines in Gargagnago di Valpolicella, near Verona. A new, modern wine cellar is being built in a new development named after the street address ‘Monteleone 21’. Visitors to the winery can also visit the bar or restaurant here and stock up their own wine cellars in the shop. The design of the building placed particular emphasis on innovation and sustainability, as well as integration into the surrounding landscape. In addition to geothermal energy, solar energy is utilised here: Kalzip’s AluPlusSolar roof-integrated photovoltaic system was employed. A special feature: to match the colour of the roof and solar panels to the other parts of the building, both were custom-made in the shade Indian Brown.

Images

Copyright: Studio Architetti Mar. Photographer: Ceola Francesco/Segato Lorenzo