Technologies
Synoptic diagram of the components in ZERO-PLUS
Examined Technologies
SBskin Technology |
|
 |
SBskin technology offers precast, dry-assembled and prestressed translucent BIPV components, made of DSC-integrated glassblocks, for building façade and roof installations, with high energy saving and production performance. SBskin patented products belong to the Building Integrated Photovoltaic sector as a multifunctional, all-in-one technological solution where the PV module is a technical element of the building envelope, providing also thermal and acoustic insulation, air tightness, water tightness, modulation of the light from the outdoor environment, aesthetic characterization. |
LFR Technology |
|
 |
The technology has been developed by ARCA partner SMEs and consists of a compact solar collector for multi-generative applications, based on a Fresnel concentration system where mirrors constantly pursue the solar position during the day. The possibility of a tight coupling of flat PV panels on the reverse side of the mirrors may give high flexibility in energy generation. The collector has been optimized to reduce the space required for installation thanks to a lightweight design and a reduced focal length. The control system optimizes the behavior of the system according to the energy consumption and environmental operating conditions. |
FAE Technology |
|
 |
The technology has been developed by ARCA partner and consists of high efficiency photovoltaic cells. Its reflective optics are based on a point-focus rectangular off-axis parabolic mirror. It has ultraclean solar glass with silver coating and high reflectance value, and a concentration ratio of about 2000 suns. Its overall efficiency is around 75% while its electrical efficiency is about 30%. The FAE technology works around an Alt-Alt type tracker with a primary axis in North-South direction. |
Solarinvent Freescoo Technology |
|
 |
HVAC Freescoo is an innovative compact solar air conditioning system. It is designed for ventilation, cooling, dehumidification and heating of buildings. Solar heat and water are used to drive the cooling process to condition the space the unit is connected to. The air handling process ensures temperature and humidity control. In addition, the system is designed to provide air flow in the conditioned space. The amount of electricity needed to drive the system is very low, and it can be supplied by connecting the unit to the building grid. |
WindRail Technology |
|
 |
The use of renewable energy sources on buildings currently focus on solar radiation usage by PV (electricity) and solar thermal (heat) as stand-alone applications. Wind as resource is rarely used, and pressure differences around the building are not at all exploited as additional available resources. WindRail®, provided by ANERDGY, is a building-based modular wind turbine system that efficiently harnesses the energy of the wind, by exploiting the pressure differences around the building and the solar radiation to generate electricity. The wind flow is gathered on the facade corner, and sped up by the pressure difference inside the WindRail® inlet. The inlet optimally directs the sped up wind flow towards the turbine rotor. It then passes over the blades of the turbine rotor for optimum kinetic energy transfer to the rotor before exiting on the building roof through the outlet. The rotor drives the generator, which produces electricity from wind & pressure. Energy is then inverted to alternate current and used directly in the building (see YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3GUNj8UuHA for more comprehensive information). In addition, the upper surface of WindRail® may be covered with solar photovoltaic cells that contribute up to half the total electricity generation of the module. As a result, a simple modular system integrates aesthetically into the building structure and prevents landscape pollution. Each module is connected to the building using an ingenious interface system (base frame), which allows simple installation and maintenance and fulfils a safety function. WindRail® modules are designed to also enable integration of other building based technical solutions such as HVAC systems. |
Insulation (XPS) Technology |
|
 |
For the case studies of ZERO-PLUS, innovative, composite cool thermal insulating materials based on a new generation of extruded polystyrene (XPS) is provided by FIBRAN. Cool materials are able to deliver high solar reflectance and high thermal emittance. They reduce heat load for the air conditioning system, energy usage and CO2 released to atmosphere. The photocatalytic properties on the product’s surface provide the extra self-cleaning capabilities. The specific envelope components developed by FIBRAN have improved vapour permeability (lower water vapour diffusion resistance factor μ) as well the possibility to have low emissivity coefficient that is achieved by the use of special ceramic tile as a final coating with specific features (http://www.aivc.org/sites/default/files/190.1369991414.full_.pdf). This makes the envelope component suitable for various climatic regions. Based on the above, the material is lighter and is suitable for new and existing buildings; it minimises the construction costs because of the decrease in the required layers and the easier construction method (cut and fixation); The final layer – ceramic tile – is a cool material with either high or low emissivity coefficient which contributes to the mitigation of the thermal socks (cracks) of the tiles. |
Integrated energy Resource Management by ABB Italy |
|
 |
Integrated Resource Management coupled with Smart Grids opens the door to new applications with far-reaching inter-disciplinary impacts: providing the capacity to safely integrate more renewable energy sources, smart buildings and distributed generators into the network; delivering power more efficiently and reliably through demand response and comprehensive control and monitoring capabilities; using automatic grid reconfiguration to prevent or restore outages (self-healing capabilities); enabling consumers to have greater control over their electricity consumption and to actively participate in the electricity market. For ZERO-PLUS the following architecture is provided by ABB. |
