A shelter that produces renewable energy, suitable for areas with landscape constraints.
There are less than 10 years until the ban on all petrol and diesel cars. By 2035 the European car fleet will be populated almost exclusively by electric vehicles (although the date could slip). This will lead to a great need for energy for vehicles that will remain parked most of the time. It is therefore rather intuitive that car parks and shelters will represent the best places to keep cars parked and, at the same time, recharge them, perhaps with the help of solar panels. Several proposals have already been put forward, such as the modular shelter that produces photovoltaic energy and is assembled like the bricks of children’s toys.
The need to create sustainable infrastructures is also strongly emerging, not only from an energy point of view, but also from an aesthetic point of view, ensuring harmonious integration with urban spaces and, in particular, in protected areas.
Some French manufacturers have joined forces to create a shelter that can be inserted into spaces of particular aesthetic and environmental value.
A company specializing in the production of solar roof tiles for historic homes and churches and one that creates metal structures focused on photovoltaics have collaborated to design a solar shelter intended for ecologically protected areas.
The shelter, equipped with a steel structure, offers six configurations, from Y-poles to butterfly models and half-domes, with powder-coated finishes available in different colors.
The two companies, SunStyle International and Triangle Horizon, installed a 33 kW demonstration solar shelter at the latter’s industrial site, where it was tested for six months. The system uses French-made solar tiles, each composed of 23 PERC (Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell, an advanced technology to improve energy conversion efficiency) solar cells. The tiles are available in black (115 Wc), terracotta (85 Wc) and gray (85 Wc) to integrate harmoniously into natural landscapes and fit into contexts with terracotta, zinc or slate roofing. Research is currently underway to develop transparent solar roof tiles.
The companies provide a 25-year guarantee for the tiles, thanks to a 6 mm thick layer of tempered solar glass that makes them resistant to extreme weather conditions such as wind, hail and snow. Thanks to their design inspired by traditional slate roofs, they have earned the attention of many design studios with notable collaborations at Google’s California campus and the French pavilion at the Dubai Expo 2020.
This solution is designed for areas where traditional solar technologies are subject to restrictions or bans due to urban planning regulations. The solar shelter also managed to fall within the French landscape integration bonus, which promotes the creation of photovoltaic roofs that comply with specific aesthetic criteria.
