Suntech BIPV System Installed on Model Sustainable Home in UK
New Requirements for Sustainable Housing in UK Represent Significant Market Opportunity for Solar Energy Systems
Wuxi, China, June 15, 2007
Source: Suntech Power press release /PRWire
Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP), one of the world’s leading manufacturers of photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules, today announced the demonstration of its MSK Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) system at the OffSite exhibition at the UK Building Research Establishment. The installation is part of Kingspan Off- Site’s innovative “Lighthouse” net-zero carbon home, which is the first house design to achieve the British government’s Code for Sustainable Homes Level 6.
The “Lighthouse” was developed by Kingspan Off-Site in conjunction with multiple partner companies and is the first house to co-generate sufficient electrical power to meet the new sustainable home requirements. By 2016, all new homes built in the UK will be required to be designed and constructed to meet the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 6. It is expected that 200,000 new homes will be built annually in the UK by 2016.
“Suntech is very pleased to have collaborated with the Kingspan Off-site team, Sheppard Robson architects and Arup consultants to create this high performance solution,” said Jerry Stokes, President of Suntech Europe. “Visitors to Off-Site 2007 have been impressed with the excellent integration of the Just Roof PV modules into the building design where the modules function as both an electrical energy generator and the weatherproof roof of the building. This solution offsets some of the building cost as well as providing the annual power requirements for the house.”
The project incorporated 57 MSK Just Roof BIPV modules, which replace conventional roofing panels. MSK Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary
of Suntech with over 20 years of experience in the BIPV space. MSK has
completed over 5,000 BIPV system installations in factory manufactured
houses similar to the “Lighthouse”. The off-site manufacturing of the
majority of building components ensures that a new home can be assembled
on-site extremely quickly — significantly reducing the time from building
approval to finished construction.
“Kingspan Off-Site is extremely proud to be the first company to have been certified to the UK government Level 6 Code for Sustainable Homes,” said Gilbert McCarthy Managing Director of Kingspan Off-Site. “With the rapid developments in solar PV technology, which offer improved performance and lower cost, we expect to see tremendous opportunities to develop our business with Suntech. MSK’s Just Roof BIPV solar modules were a key component in our gaining this prestigious certification.”
Dr. Zhengrong Shi, Suntech’s Chairman and CEO, commented on the IPV
installation: “This project is an example of how modern building design and
solar energy systems can combine to create a sustainable, zero-carbon
solution. We are working with governments worldwide to encourage adoption
of this technology as one practical way to reduce carbon emissions.”