Columbia University Developing Hybrid Integrated Solar Energy System

Weidlinger Associates and Columbia University’s Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science announced recentlythat they have recieved a Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program grant, supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), to expedite research of a “Hybrid Building Integrated Solar Energy System for Photovoltaic, Thermoelectric, and Heat Utilization.” The $150,000 award is being matched by an additional 10% commitment from New York State.

The multi-layered building-integrated solar panel, developed by Columbia Engineering professor Huiming Yin, produces both electricity and hot water. Initial tests suggest that it could achieve unprecedented cost and energy efficiencies. The patent-pending hybrid functions as a roof element rather than an accessory.


Only three of the 107 U.S. advanced technology firms that received initial grants were from New York State, and only this team was from New York City. This highly competitive award (there were 950 applicants) represents an $18 million investment of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds in clean energy technologies developed by U.S. small businesses. The most promising of these projects will qualify for another $60 million next summer in anticipation of selection for a Phase II grant to enhance the product’s marketability. As structural engineer, Weidlinger will contribute expertise in codes, materials, and constructability, focusing on design of the panel substrate and connection system and analysis of the demonstration building. HLW International will advise the team on fire resistance, waterproofing, insulation, aesthetics, and related architectural issues.

The new panel merges and improves upon proven photovoltaic and thermoelectric power-generation technologies. It is more effective than conventional photovoltaic panels at high temperatures and because of reduced thermal stresses, deteriorates less rapidly from environmental insults. As a building-integrated element that replaces structural sheathing and roofing materials, it represents the next generation of solar technology. Eliminating the redundancies of conventional non-integrated systems should lead to significant savings in materials and embodied carbon. Eliminating the numerous penetrations required for mounting detachable panels assures fewer leaks. The new panel technology is applicable to any type of roof, to new construction and renovation, and to a range of building types, from single-family homes to large commercial buildings.

Experimental verification of Dr. Yin’s model advances fundamental understanding of the problem and sets a new standard for assessing long-term performance of solar solutions. Experimentation, development, and proofing for strength, performance, and durability will be conducted in the Robert A.W. Carleton Strength of Materials Laboratory of Columbia’s Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics.
“Thorough testing of the concept will play an especially important role in the development of this technology because of its multi-use nature covering structural, thermal, and solar aspects,” stated Professor Rene Testa, Carleton’s Director of Research. The Laboratory has a long history of supporting NYC infrastructure projects. In this application, its facilities will be used not only to test structural aspects but to simulate various weather conditions in a test chamber for predicting the panel’s performance and establishing the optimal configuration of the solar array.

Fonte: solarthermalmagazine