First large-scale use of perovskite solar cells in office building slated for Poland this year

Skanska’s commercial development business unit in Central Eastern Europe says it will be the first developer to cover office buildings with semi-transparent perovskite solar cells on a commercial scale.

Perovskites are crystalline materials that have great potential to replace silicon in solar power generation. Skanska will apply the technology, developed by Saule Technologies, onto its projects in 2018.

This will be a significant milestone towards zero-energy and carbon neutral office buildings, Skanska says. The company says that the stability and water resistance of the modules makes them ideal for the construction industry.

“Our modules are lighter, thinner, and much more design-friendly than the most popular silicon solar cells,” says Olga Malinkiewicz, co-founder and CTO at Saule Technologies. “We may customize the shape, color, and size of the module depending on the needs of the customer and install them wherever there is a free area on the building.”

New ideas in design and constructability are radically changing how metal systems are used as roofing for commercial and institutional buildings. Behind the investment in these new kinds of expressions and construction approaches is a growing interest in improved performance and reduced environmental impact. Metal roofing systems can cut cooling and heating loads significantly, according to the EPA.