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Facade power: solar cells generate office tower’s electricity needs

Words:
Stephen Cousins

A Melbourne office tower features over 1,000 solar cells on its facade, generating more energy than the building consumes and cutting CO2 emissions by 70 tonnes per year

550 Spencer office tower.
550 Spencer office tower. Credit: Kennon

Australia’s first building to exploit its façade to generate on-site power has opened in Melbourne.

The 550 Spencer commercial office tower, designed by local studio Kennon for a private developer, features 1,182 solar panels able to generate 142 kWp of electricity – some 50 times the capacity of a typical residential rooftop system in Australia.

That’s more energy than the building consumes, resulting in almost zero ongoing power costs, also reducing CO2 emissions by an estimated 70 tonnes annually.

According to practice director Pete Kennon, the decision to install a solar facade, instead of traditional solar panels, was driven primarily by aesthetics, as well as preserving the rooftop for a garden terrace. ‘It represents a shift from the conventional bulky appearance of solar panels, showing that sustainable architecture can seamlessly integrate sleek and visually appealing designs without compromising functionality,’ says Kennon.

Credit: Kennon
Credit: Kennon

The eight-storey building is targeting carbon neutrality and received a 5-star rating under NABERS, the national initiative certifying the environmental performance of buildings in Australia. The building operates entirely without gas as part of a fossil-free energy model.

Solar panels cover 50 per cent of the entire facade. There are solid panels on the north side and clear glass panels on the southern pleated facade, to reduce heat gain and ensure indoor comfort. The facade design also eliminates the need for air conditioning.

The solar panel product specified was Skala Panel by Germany’s Avancis. According to Kennon, national building codes have not yet made provision for solar facade products so the studio had to carry out tests with local expert Red Fire Engineers to ensure fire safety, and ultimately gain approval from the state of Victoria's building authority.

Credit: Kennon

‘Now this has been achieved,’ says Kennon, ‘the technology and product is available to be used throughout Australia and in the wider industry … helping tackle the climate crisis and the future of sustainable architecture in Australia.’

Generated electricity is used immediately, eliminating the need for battery storage, while excess power is fed into the grid.

Beyond energy efficiency, the building prioritises occupant wellbeing, with generous natural light, views of the surrounding environment, and natural ventilation on every level.

 

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