Building integration of an amorphous silicon photovoltaic facade

A large photovoltaic facade was retrofitted to an industrial building complex of the Joint Research Centre. Amorphous silicon technology was chosen to cover the maximum possible area at a minimum of costs. The a-Si substrates are laminated within a double-glass facade element. Total area of the facade is 770 m/sup 2/, probably the largest PV facade in operation. Total power output fed into the grid is approximately 25 kWp after stabilisation. Emphasis was put on the architectural design and the visualisation of the function of the system to a wider public by an interactive user-display.