Konarka Technologies, Inc. announced that it is working with the Color/Construction Unit of ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe, a supplier of steel construction elements in Germany, to develop steel roof and other construction elements for building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). The joint solar solution will be based on Konarka’s Power Plastic® which is said to easily replace conventional building materials in roofs, skylights and facades.
“Konarka’s thin, light and flexible photovoltaic technology will be applied to our substrate materials in a continuous process, both cost-efficiently and eco-friendly, ideally integrating into our production process,” commented Dr. Lars Pfeiffer, head of quality and development at the Color/Construction unit. "Unlike conventional silicon-based photovoltaic systems, the joint solar solution will not need to be mounted on a raised structure but will integrate smoothly into the building envelope. We look forward to providing the valuable, added benefits of solar to our customers at a low cost."
