Breaking the Vase Neck in Application of Photovoltaic Power Generation

Scientists believe that solar energy can provide two thousand times of what human needs. The technology of photovoltaic power generation has come out for decades while people still worry about energy exhaustion―how to make full use of solar energy brings light into energy crisis. Currently， photovoltaic power generation industries worldwide are confronted with common problems， namely high cost， limited application and lack of support from government power grid system. It is inevitable for them to seek new and effective techniques and to make efforts in the popularization and application of this industry in each field， among which building energy conservation is one of the important fields.

The distributed photovoltaic power generation leads the trends of future development. Relative to the centralized power station， distributed generation is usually installed in users’ building for private use. Extra electricity can be sold through upload while at night users can purchase it from power grid. The roof of plant’s workshop， public buildings and British resident’s houses is suitable for photovoltaic power generation which is encouraged by the Europe and America. The followings are several interesting cases abroad in which distributed photovoltaic power generation and buildings are harmoniously integrated.

Let the Dead Shine： Cemetery Power Station in Spain

No place is more creative than the city of Santa Coloma in Spain where green resources develops rapidly with solar energy power station built in city graveyard.

Located in the neighborhood of Barcelona， Santa Coloma owns the first solar power cemetery. Despite the fact that it is a resting place for the departed， the head of the cemetery think out of the box hoping to produce clean energy with vast areas.

As the concept of environmental protections is rooted deeply in people’s mind， how to make full use of solar energy is a new topic among residents of every country. However， it constantly bothers everyone that where to place those huge solar power panels. Santa Coloma determines to put great number of panels in a secluded place―cemetery. In the year of 2008， 462 pieces of panels put into service and generated 100 degree of electricity everyday satisfying 60 families’ demand.

Project manager Estevan Cereté says in an interview that： "it’s the same to collect solar energy through the top of graves as in plants." This plan obtains support from Santa Coloma government. With a high urbanization level， this city is lack of spaces for obtaining enough sunshine， meanwhile huge spaces in cemetery is not effectively exploited.

It takes three years for preparation of this project. Although it seems perfect， it is not easy to put into practice. Since cemetery is a divine place for locals， implementation of the project can neither ruin the scenery there nor affect the environment. As a result， the design of solar power panels in this quiet and beautiful place should coordinate with architectural style of the graveyard.

Cereté refers that： "we are able to generate 400 degrees of electricity instead of the highest output of 600 degrees every day due to a limited layout of the cemetery." He also indicates that to elevate photoelectric plate can help to make full use of sunshine but may destroy the landscape. Considering frequent worshipers， designers of this project has to give up an optimal layout plan so as not to disturb them.

Electrical energy from objective power plant is transmitted through pipeline to converting chamber and into power grid available for local residents. In spite of its high costs， this project can reduce 65 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year， equivalent to 4，600 trees’ absorption which is invaluable.

Live in “Sunflower”： Energy-saving Resident’s House in Germany

It sounds impractical to consume energy with increasing income instead of spending money. But in Germany this fantasy comes true.

The greatest achievement of Germany in building energy conservation is to develop solar houses. Solar energy in families is mainly used in lightning， heating and hot water supply. In today’s Germany， not only single houses like small one with only one family is equipped with solar energy system for heating and supplying hot water， but also collective residences or houses of various layout.

In the south of Freiburg in Germany lays a solar energy community with sunflower houses in lines. Bird’s eye view from the air， it is a large complex of 15 buildings with 5 in a row. Built round the hills and surrounded by forests， looking like a boat in the woods， it is one of the topnotch solar residences in Europe.

The roof of those buildings is installed solar energy panels and generation devices for supplying electricity. What unique is that the houses can revolve together with the sun. They move very slowly like the revolving restaurant in TV tower. There fore no matter where the sun goes， the solar energy panels can always capture it.

The word "sunflower house" originates from "sun" and "revolve" of Greek. Solar energy panels are found everywhere throughout Freiburg， from soccer playground to all neighbors， providing much more electricity than they needs.

This residence community is finished in the year of 2004 covering 1，100，000 square meters， of which 1，200 square meters is for commercial use in the first floor with a supermarket and 3，600 square meters for official business in the second and third floor. There are two floors underground available for parking about 110 cars. It has 60 apartments ranging from 168 square meters to 91 square meters distributed on the top of the "sun boat" with solar energy panels and gardens as well as lawns in the front. The whole community is like a picturesque scene， with shining panels under the sun and colorful exterior wall of the building， interspersed with green gardens and grassland， attracting lots of eco- tourists.

In terms of economy， this community is full of innovativeness. It is "energy-increasing house" as it produces energy and consumes less. Key points are as follows： since the household solar energy generation joins into power grid， extra electricity is received by public grid and bring income for householders according to Law of Renewable Energy of Germany. Statistics shows that each householder earns approximately from 1，100 to 1，800 Euros every year. In addition， the community has established Sun Boat Fund with an initial price of 5，000 Euros for 20 years， and will be invested in environmental protection project of a 6.2% annual interest rate.