The Premiere of Sun Breaker Installation With Perovskite Solar Modules

Fot. Saule Technologies

The new commercial product of Saule Technologies, based on the original concept of automatic blinds with perovskite solar cells, was first presented in October 2020. The profiles with solar modules were placed on the aluminum structure supplied by Aliplast are equipped with an automatic change of position with the sun’s movement, developed by Somfy.

– After opening the world’s first perovskite cell factory in Wrocław in May, today, less than three months later, we are again making a revolution in the global photovoltaic and renewable energy industry. We are entering a new stage in the development of Saule Technologies – the era of commercialization of our perovskite cells. We proudly present our complete product – automatic slats – sun breakers, operating on the facade of our first client’s building – Aliplast. This is a special moment for us, crowning seven years of hard work of the entire Saule Technologies team – said Olga Malinkiewicz, CTO and co-founder of Saule Technologies.

Watch the summary from the official opening of the production line.

The blinds – sun breakers presented at the premiere in Lublin not only protect the building from overheating or cooling down, significantly reducing the cost of air conditioning and heating. At the same time, they produce clean energy from solar illumination.

Thanks to the Animeo automation system from Somfy, the profiles with perovskite modules cooperate with the weather station installed on the roofs. Using live weather data and sun-tracking, they automatically change their alignment with the movement of the sun. This solution ensures the facility’s energy efficiency and guarantees thermal comfort and protection against too harsh light for the building users – regardless of the season.

– The implementation of the system is possible in any building type. Therefore, I believe that this is the beginning of a revolution in the world of photovoltaics. – said Jan Kidaj, President of the Management and Board Member of Aliplast Sp. z o.o.

Sun breakers are part of Building Applied Photovoltaics (BAPV) systems, i.e., photovoltaic installations mounted on office buildings, shopping centers, warehouses, and factories. Saule Technologies perovskite sunblinds can be tailored to customer preferences, ranging from the material used, such as aluminum, wood, glass, or plastics, through shape and width, to color. But not only for these reasons, but they are also a breakthrough solution. In photovoltaics, solar sun blinds open a new market possibility with enormous growth potential: building facades, where traditional silicon cells, heavy and ineffective in suboptimal lighting, do not compete. The solution from Saule Technologies solution is the first commercial product of this type in the world.

Perovskites and traditional silicon cells
Unlike traditional silicon cells, perovskite cells are flexible, lightweight, ultra-thin, and translucent. Their production does not require high temperatures, which translates into significantly lower energy consumption, lower production costs, and the possibility of using substrates of various surfaces, even foil or textiles. Perovskite cells can generate energy from artificial light, and – unlike silicon panels – they are efficient even then when the sun’s rays fall at an angle other than 90 degrees. Thanks to these advantages and their low weight, they can be mounted even on vertical façade elements and in colors matching the façade of the buildings.