SunPower has announced that it has joined forces with RAcell Solar and Danfoss Solar Inverters to power the largest solar installation in Scandinavia. The 125-kilowatt system provides solar electric power to the New Danish National Radio and Television (DR) buildings in Copenhagen, Denmark.
"Denmark has always been a leader in innovative building designs that are both beautiful and functional," said Yakov Safir, managing director for RAcell Solar. "The partly transparent panels for the DR buildings not only generate electricity, but they also act as a sun shield, creating beautiful shadows that provide a unique, artistic effect."
The unique installation was designed by Copenhagen-based Dissing+Weitling Architects together with panel manufacturer and systems integrator RAcell Solar. SunPower's A-300 high-efficiency solar cells were used in the panels that cover 1200 square meters (about 13,000 square feet) of the building's roofline, and Danfoss Solar Inverters provided the 24 inverters for this project. The solar electric system powers the ground water pumps that cool the building and the technical equipment located in the television studios. By combining fresh air, ground water and solar energy, two-thirds of the cooling needed is now generated by renewable energy, which is expected to reduce the annual carbon emissions by 40 tons.
"By combining SunPower's high-efficiency solar cells with our high-efficiency inverters, we are maximizing solar-electric output," said Henrik Raunkjaer, managing director at Danfoss Solar Inverters. "The unique solar array and outstanding artistic design add an exceptional building to the Copenhagen skyline. We compliment the vision and cooperation between all companies involved with this project."
The solar panels are integrated on the rooftop above the main television news studio and form a type of striping effect that is visible from both inside the newsroom and from the street level outside. The panels offer different looks and colors depending on the viewing angle, and there are no visual wires or junction boxes as specified by the design criteria.
"We are pleased that SunPower was chosen to provide the solar cells for this architecturally attractive and historic building," said Joern Juergens, director, component sales for SunPower Corp. "With the limited roof space available, the use of SunPower's high-efficiency solar cells made it possible to meet all of the power requirements and design features."
