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Eco design
Tapping the Sun
Reynaers Aluminium has installed an innovative photovoltaic
roof in Belgium to save energy costs.
Besides innovations in sustainable building solutions, Reynaers
considers it its duty to contribute actively to the realisation
of the Kyoto targets for reductions in greenhouse gases, and
to generate more electricity from renewable energy sources.
Recent ecological and energy-efficient innovations by the
company comprise aluminium profiles with high thermal insulation
values and external sun screening that enable more energy-efficient
management of buildings and double-façade solutions.
The project
“The decision to invest in a solar power station fits
into the business vision of an environmentally aware and socially
responsible policy says Laurence Finé, Group Communication
Manager, Reynaers Aluminium. The payback period for the project
is calculated to be nine years with a total investment of
€2.9 million. The photovoltaic installation will consist
of 3,072 solar modules that will cover an area of 16,000 sq
m. The system will generate 500,000 kilowatt-hour (kWh) of
green electricity per year. This corresponds to the annual
electricity consumption of 166 households. A traditional thermal
power station of the same capacity would emit 280 tonne of
CO2 per year.
Electricity generated during the weekend will be fed into
the municipal electricity grid. The average life of the panels
is 25 years. Replacement, too, is very easy - the panel can
be replaced in the existing grid.
The limitations
“There’s a growing market for such technology
but the production and capacity of the cells is low. The price
will not reduce massively in the near future. Government aid
compensates for this. For instance, such aid helped make this
project a reality,” reveals Finé.
Looking ahead
In addition to its ecologically friendly features, aluminium
is also considered as a material for the future by architects.
According to comments by architects during a recent survey
by Reynaers, aluminium will continue to grow in popularity
as a building material, both in the residential and non-residential
markets. This is not only because of its versatility and light
weight, but also its ecologically friendly footprint and growing
capacities in fire and bullet-proofing and thermal insulation
capabilities. The survey shows that 85 per cent of architects
consider aluminium as the material of choice for non-residential
buildings and 72 per cent for residential construction.
“The building industry has the most significant potential
impact on the reduction of energy emission in modern society.
Therefore, we develop high-insulated profiles; windows and
doors CS 86-HI, sliding elements CP 155-HI, and curtain walls
CW 50-HI and CW 86-HI. Reynaers also promotes sun-shading
solutions in combination with software that determines the
heating and cooling hour with and without shading. Reynaers
integrates photovoltaic transparent panels in curtain wall
system CW 60 and in sun-shading systems. Ultimately, our focus
lies not just in renewable energy but energy performances
overall,” signs off Finé.
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