Product category:
Solar Energy Services
News Release from: Solarcentury | Subject: Solar photovoltaic
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 11 July 2005
Solarcentury illuminates the Serpentine
Gallery
Solarcentury's bespoke design illuminates the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2005
Each year a unique temporary landmark structure is designed by leading international architects, chosen because they consistently push the boundaries of architectural practice The Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2005 was designed by Alvaro Siza and Eduardo Souto de Moura with Cecil Balmond from ARUP, and as dusk falls over Hyde Park the new Serpentine Pavilion, described as 'an animal poised to pounce', comes to life in a wave of light
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 4 Jul 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Solarcentury and W Copeland new eco development
Solarcentury has provided its unique integrated solar photovoltaic C21e tiles for W Copeland and Son's new environmentally friendly development of apartments and townhouses in Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland solar first for Solarcentury
Solarcentury has completed the first installation of the company's C21e solar photovoltaic roof tiles in the education sector in Northern Ireland.
Illuminating the structure against the night sky, 248 independent power systems create a solar powered aura, which accentuates the Pavilion's novel shape whilst lighting it up inside.
solarcentury, the UK's leading solar photovoltaic company were approached by ARUP to design the independent off-grid units.
The aim was to design a completely wireless system, to be easily incorporated within the distorted rectangular grid structure of interlocking timber beams.
Further reading
Solar4schools and Quartz Financing for schools
Solar4Schools new financing agreement with Quartz Finance makes process of funding solar photovoltaic installations for schools even simpler.
Sunshine on Putney with Solarcentury
Solarcentury, the UK's leading supplier of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, has supplied PV units to a new six-house development in Putney, south-west London.
The result was a bespoke solar lighting module designed to fit inside each of the 'tendrils' that cover the outdoor pavilion.
Consisting of a specifically designed round photovoltaic (PV) laminate, a nickel metal hydride battery, high efficiency Luxeon LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting and control module to govern the system.
Each lighting module sits inside a polycarbonate tube in the centre of the roofing panels.
Each individual solar panel captures energy from the sun during the day to charge up the battery in each spike.
The batteries power the LEDs, which in turn illuminate the gallery.
solarcentury designed the controller to remember the time of sunset from the night before, and switches on the LEDs before dusk.
In the summer the lights will therefore come on much later than they would in autumn or winter.
Depending on how each solar panel is oriented on the roof, it will detect dusk at a slightly different time, causing an independent wave of illumination to spread across the ceiling as night falls.
The daylight sensing and operational functionality is derived from the solarcentury streetsmart controller used in over 1000 solar bus shelters throughout the UK.
Solar shelters use a similar LED and battery unit, which enables them to remain completely independent from the conventional power sources, making them cheaper than grid connected systems.
The Serpentine systems, like the solar shelters, leave the batteries fully charged at the end of each day providing ample energy to power the lighting units throughout the night.
To allow for the unpredictable British climate the battery also has enough capacity to ensure the lights function even in periods of no or poor daylight.
The individual units within the Serpentine Pavilion are designed to function for five days regardless of the weather, ensuring security of lighting.
• Solarcentury: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Buildingtalk email newsletter
• Buildingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
