SolarWall PV/Thermal Demonstration Projects Announced
Released on Nov 15 2007
SolarWall News >> Press Release

Toronto, Ontario; November 2007 — The Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources has announced $1.1 million for demonstration projects promoting photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal power technologies for commercial and residential use. "These hybrid demonstration projects will turn the exteriors and roofs of homes and businesses into clean-energy systems." said Minister Lunn.

The technology being demonstrated was developed by Conserval Engineering Inc. and combines two excellent solar technologies to produce both electricity and heat energy from the same surface area. Pairing a photovoltaic component with the SolarWall® air collector is a synergistic relationship because it creates a multi-functional renewable energy system with a payback period that is substantially less than conventional PV. Improving the cost/benefit analysis of PV is very significant because it increases the potential for the technology in commercial, industrial, and institutional applications.

The four demonstration projects are in Ontario and Quebec. In addition to support from the Government of Canada, the initiative is being led by the Solar Buildings Research Network (SBRN) out of Concordia University, and project partners include: Conserval Engineering Inc., Day4Energy Inc., Sustainable Energy Technologies Ltd., Sevag Pogharian Design, Les Maisons Alouette Homes, Regulvar Inc., Hydro-Québec, lAgence de lefficacité énergétique du Québec and the City of Toronto.

The announcement has generated a tremendous amount of interest in the PV thermal technology because of the enormous potential and widespread applicability for improving the economics of PV installations and increasing the energy and CO2 displacement possible from the same footprint.

Last changed: Feb 21 2008