Beijing, China—  The Beijing Olympic Village is home to solar technology; the world’s first SolarWall photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) hybrid system.

Mounted on the roof of one of the central buildings, which will be a service center for athletes during the Olympics, the SolarWall PV/T technology is unique in that it is one of the first commercially viable hybrid solar systems.  The technology produces both electricity and heat energy from the same surface area, generating 200 too 300 percent more energy than a conventional PV system, the company reports.  It combines SolarWall air heating technology with photovoltaics to create a total energy solution in which the payback period is reduced and the CO2 displacement is maximized.

As an added benefit the SolarWall panels also cool the PV modules by removing the heat and channeling it into the facility’s traditional heating system.  The building is also home to a conventional SolarWall air heating system, which was integrated into the front façade.

The project was done through the Canadian SolarWall office, with Conserval Engineering working in partnership with Natural Resources Canada and the Olympic Village developer to incorporate these innovative solar technologies into the site.

“Conserval’s SolarWall is a great example of the practical and cost-effective clean energy technologies being developed by Canadian innovators,” said The Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources. “The Beijing Olympic Games offer a tremendous opportunity to showcase this technology to a global audience, and the Government of Canada is proud to be a partner in making this demonstration possible.”

“Technologies — like the SolarWall  air heating and PV/thermal systems — that address the fact the largest source of energy usage is through buildings are required if worldwide CO2 reduction targets are to be met,” said John Hollick, Conserval Engineering President.

For more information, visit www.solarwall.com.