Large Commercial Building Integrated PV Makes Sacramento Debut

SOURCE: SMUD Midyear Update 2001 [200 kb pdf]

A new campus of California State office buildings, dubbed the East End Complex,
is under construction in Sacramento. Like many large commercial buildings, glass
‘curtain walls’ were planned as an integral part of the exterior. SMUD worked
with the building design team to have a portion of the curtain wall generate solar
electricity for the building. The solar active curtain wall pictured at right became
the first example of BIPV (building integrated PV) systems being designed into
new Sacramento buildings under the SMUD BIPV program.

As part of the East End Complex the State and SMUD are also providing Solarports
on the top levels of the new parking structures. The first of the East End
Solarports was completed in 2000. This system provides the dual function
of providing shaded parking as well as pumping 21 kW into the lights, elevators
and other power circuits in the structure.

Another East End Solarport (41 kW) is scheduled to be installed Fall 2002.
The remaining five office buildings will utilize an additional 125kW of
building integrated PV incorporated into curtain walls and screen walls on the mechanical penthouses.
The penthouses are designed to pick up all sun orientations and supplement
electrical service to the building during all seasons of the year and sunlight
hours.

The CalEPA Headquarters Building, completed mid-2000, has an operational 30 kW building attached PV
(BAPV) system that feeds directly into the building’s electrical panel on the 8 th story low rise portion of the
building. Several other BIPV and the more traditional BAPV applications are being incorporated in various
new projects currently under development.

The California State Franchise Tax Board is planning a BIPV and BAPV system of over 1MW on their new facility. Utilizing
PV modules provided by SMUD, a PowerLight system will be installed; adhering the modules to a traditional
foam roof-insulating panel that will allow positive roof drainage and a seamless installation. Other major
commercial projects - including the CalPERS Headquarters Expansion, Natomas High School and the Greening of the Capital project
- will be using PV products and building integrated attachment systems. Endless creative solutions are available
to builders to utilize PV's as a renewable source of reliable power as well as a creative design tool to enhance
the beauty of their buildings.

For more information:
Brian Sehnert, 732-5470,
bsehner@smud.org