Combined Solar C and semi-controllable Solarfin

The desire to create low energy buildings is an increasingly important aspect in many of today's construction projects. Helping to meet this objective, Colt designed, manufactured and installed a comprehensive solar shading system, which includes the use of photovoltaic technology, at UTZ Berlin, an Innovation Centre for Environmental Technology.

The building, which spans some 40.000m² , incorporates an entrance zone with reception, demonstration area, cafeteria and conference hall as well as an adjacent complex for visitors, offices and laboratories.

Two key objectives were at the heart of the project: to ensure the building would have a low energy requirement and also that any negative impact on the surrounding landscape would be kept to a minimum. In order to meet this objective a sophisticated solar shading system was specified. For the South West façade this involved the installation of combined fixed horizontal and vertical solar shading. Both systems have been designed to complement each other:as the sun moves and one system loses its effectiveness the other takes over. Additionally, it is possible to manually alter the vertical elements, which improves internal lighting.

Photovoltaic elements have been installed on the façade of the entrance hall which, at the same time, shades the glass façade behind it. This system is able to produce an output of approximately 15kW, resulting in an annual energy generation of 7,500kW.