Cologne Technical University
has the answer.
Homeowners who do not want or are not permitted to install solar panels on their roofs for aesthetic reasons or because the building is heritage-listed will soon have a viable alternative, namely, a solar roof tile developed by paXos Consulting & Engineering GmbH & Co. KG and optimised in co-operation with Cologne Technical University.
Creating the future
together.
“Many roof surfaces in Germany are not used to generate energy, despite the fact that such an undertaking would be a significant factor in achieving a successful transition of energy creation. Our aim is to develop an alternative option for heritage-listed buildings and for homeowners who have previously avoided solar panels because of their appearance. It was for this reason that the co-operation with Cologne Technical University was so important,” says Mr Julian Münzberg, the project manager at paXos. The “Solar Roof Tile.NRW – Decentralised Electricity and Heat Supply made in NRW” project was launched to further develop the prototype and prepare it for series production. Researchers from the technical university’s photovoltaics, renewable energies, power electronics and glass construction departments tested and optimised the product over a period of more than three years. Among other things, two long-term test areas were set up to compare a roof covered with solar roof tiles with one featuring conventional solar modules.
Developing smart solutions
for the future.
Four sub-projects at Cologne Technical University examined this design for temperature behaviour, accessibility, resistance to environmental influences and improved safety. The team also analysed the glass used to minimise optical losses due to reflection or scattering, and determined an optimal combination of solar cell and shingle types. As solar roof tiles generate electrical energy as well as a high level of heat, an air-heat pump was also installed. What’s more, a micro-converter was developed to maximise the output of the entire system – that is, the series of connected roof tiles – even in times of shade. “The adjustments we made to the actual roof tiles have significantly improved the physical properties and the energy yield. The system was thus deemed ready for continuous use under real conditions,” says Prof. Dr. Christian Dick, project manager at Cologne Technical University.
The future is coming
– in series.
During the eight-month performance test under real conditions, carried out between March and October 2022, the system showed electrical performance values to a reference system comparable with conventional solar modules mounted on stands. As preheated air escapes from a built-in air duct, the research team tested a coupled air-heat pump that used this air as a flow. Initial data showed an increase in the coefficient of performance of around a quarter depending on the heat requirement and the prevailing weather conditions. From these results, it may be deduced that the solar roof tile is well able to contribute to the heat supply in the building, thereby increasing the overall efficiency of the system. paXos Consulting & Engineering GmbH & Co. KG sold the patents filed in connection with the solar roof tile to a manufacturer of solar systems. The latter will take over series production.
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