A movable facade becomes a power station
Movable solar panels on windows automatically follow the sun and can not only generate electricity but also make air conditioning obsolete.
Switzerland often has to import electricity to meet its needs, particularly in the winter months. A largely untapped potential that could address the electricity deficit lies dormant in the facades of buildings. According to the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, 17 TWh per year could be generated by solar facades, which would cover around 30% of Switzerland's total electricity requirements.
Killing two birds with one stone: generating electricity and saving energy
This will be achieved, among other things, with movable solar modules on facade windows that not only generate electricity but also automatically regulate the energy balance of a room. A research idea from the world-renowned ETH Zurich has become reality with the founding of the spin-off Solskin in 2022.
The innovation consists of lightweight, flexible solar tiles attached to a mesh suitable for facades. Each module can be moved according to the position of the sun, and not with electric motors, but with a sophisticated, patented compressed air system that uses very little electricity. This significantly increases the yield of solar power compared to conventional static solar facades – especially in winter.
Always facing the sun
The real innovation, however, is the intelligent AI-based control system that continuously orients the modules towards the sun. According to Solskin, this makes it possible to increase photovoltaic production by 40% while at the same time reducing the building's air-conditioning by up to 80%. What initial tests in the laboratory at ETH Zurich confirmed back in 2014 has now been realised since 2022.
Successful prototype on test building
A first prototype of Solskin has been installed on one of the research demonstration and test buildings of the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (Empa). In 2023, Solskin and its innovation won the prestigious 'Watt d'Or' award, presented by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy for outstanding achievements in the field of energy.
Suitable for commercial and residential buildings
With this boost, the commercialisation of movable solar facades is now being driven forward. The first large-scale use of Solskin is expected to take place in the summer of 2025 on a new industrial production site in Switzerland, covering an area of 1,300 square metres. And with the first tailor-made solar facade for a Swiss chalet, the solution is also suitable for private homes.