The Spanish building-integrated PV manufacturer has launched glass-glass modules suitable for roofs and other urban spaces. The new products have a nominal power of 75 W.
Onxy Solar, a Spain-based manufacturer of building-integrated PV (BIPV), has unveiled new walk-on solar floor tiles suitable for use on terraces, sidewalks or patios.
The new products weigh 23 kg, measure 75 x 75 cm and have a rated power of 75 W. Custom sizes up to 4 m x 2 m are available.
The tiles are made of 8mm thick safety glass with a non-slip surface, said Diego Cuevas, vice president of business development North America for Onyx Solar. They are intended for pedestrian traffic only, Cuevas said, and can withstand up to 400 kg/m2.
The patented Onxy Solar glass tiles meet International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) standards, such as UL410 for slip resistance. The solar PV technology consists of 16 multicrystalline silicon cells with a five-rail layout, encapsulated with ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) film.
The panels can be installed on standard raised floor systems, such as PVC polymer and metal plinths, allowing electrical connections to the rear of each panel. “The system choice is up to the customer or the design team,” says Cuevas.
Onyx Solar has supplied the PV tiles to companies and institutional customers, such as the American Apple and Spanish institutions, such as the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia and the Royal Theater of Madrid.
“Here in New York City, we have already supplied floor tiles to four different residential projects. As you know, real estate in NYC is extremely expensive and this product helps developers and building owners generate sustainable energy on site without giving up a single square meter of usable space. Of course, local laws 92/94 encourage the use of these types of products,” he said, referring to local regulations that require roofs of certain buildings to be equipped with a green roof or solar photovoltaics.
A recent example of a Manhattan project is at 625 Avenue of the Americas, where the PV floor tiles are integrated into an Ipé hardwood grid frame, completed in collaboration with New York-based solar installation company Solardeck.
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