Aesthetically designed solar panels like those planned for the NUS Baba House could be ideal for vertical installations on buildings as Singapore's demand for green energy grows and rooftop space becomes scarce, experts say.
Aesthetics versus efficiencyThe downside of placing the panels vertically means they receive less sunlight, and industry players say more advanced technology is needed for vertical installations to become widespread.
"If you look at the typical energy generation from a vertical solar array at an inclined installation, the energy generation is even lower," Lim said of vertical solar.
While solar-powered designs can improve aesthetics, efficiency drops by 5 to 25 percent, depending on the design and color, Provettoni said.
The aesthetically pleasing NUS Baba House units lose about 25% of energy consumption compared to conventional units, but Provettoni said efficiency can be improved by using other materials, materials or designs.
"The color modules are the real reason for coordinating the facade of the building. It refers to the idea of having modules that try to satisfy specific aesthetic needs. In this case, the real novelty is that there are repeated models.'
Mr Pravitoni explained that the Peranakan-inspired identical panel pattern allows each cell to receive the same amount of sunlight, improving their efficiency and safety.
Despite the trade-off in energy use, aesthetics are important, he said.
"Aesthetics are important when you're in a building, because no one wants an ugly building. So you want the building to be aesthetically pleasing to the environment, and people can look at the building and say, 'Wow, that's amazing.' 'Is it PV (photovoltaic)? That's amazing,” he said, referring to the photovoltaic technology used in solar panels.
Huge future potentialWhile vertical installations and patterned panels are still in their infancy, researchers see enormous potential for integrating these solar installations into thousands of unused building facades in Singapore.
"Almost everywhere in the city there are many tall and low buildings. With high-rise buildings, the vertical surface is much larger than the roof," said Provettoni.
In addition to the assembly of solar modules, experts deal with the integration of solar technology into buildings and even roads.
"Another approach is to replace a structural element like a window with a lightweight element," Provitoni said.
"There is still a lot of work to be done, but if we achieve this goal, photovoltaics can be incorporated into the facades of most buildings in Singapore," he said.
"There are other ideas to use as a noise barrier, such as the B. highway or railway shoulders, which act as a noise barrier and generate electricity at the same time, they are also installed vertically," said Mr. Provettoni.
