Swiss module manufacturer Freesuns has installed 33,300 of its solar roof tiles on three historic buildings in the Swiss city of Neuchâtel.
Roofs with irregular curves and slopes challenge the standardized dimensions of conventional solar panels. Even more challenging is a roof on listed buildings or high-quality buildings. Swiss module manufacturer Freesuns has been addressing that specific gap in the market for several years with a range of solar roof tiles, completing a growing number of interesting heritage, residential and commercial projects.
The latest example is a project with 33,300 Freesuns solar roof tiles installed on three Swiss listed buildings in Neuchâtel. The largest of the three, the Collège des Parcs (pictured here), has 188 kW of Freesun’s Solaris Premium Black tiles.
The two other historic buildings, Breguet and Beaux-Arts, have an installed power of 130 kW and 95 kW respectively. Each room features Solaris Heritage tiles. The roof renovation is expected to be completed in November 2024.
“We hope that these groundbreaking renovation projects will serve as an inspiring model for other cantons and municipalities. This perfectly illustrates the balance between balanced heritage and sustainable development made possible by our tiles,” said Deborah Learoyd, CEO of Freesuns, in a statement.
Freesuns’ Solaris Premium Black modules have a gloss black finish with no visible lines, generate up to 144 W/m2 and weigh 46.69 kg/m2. The product line is suitable for renovation and new construction. It is compatible with cement tile roofs
The Solaris Heritage product has a matte gray finish, generates up to 138 W/m2 and is suitable for new or replacement of slate roofs. Both tile types contain 4 monocrystalline PERC cells and are made in a glass-glass configuration using tempered glass with anti-reflective coatings.
The company’s PV technology has been developed in a long-term collaboration with CSEM. “These projects show that through innovation we can combine tiles, photovoltaics, energy transition and the preservation of architectural heritage,” says Matthieu Despeisse, group leader of solar panels at CSEM.
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