Symbolic picture: What looks like an ordinary roof with terracotta tiles is actually a photovoltaic system. (Image: Dyaqua)
In the past, using solar energy on listed buildings without destroying their historical character was out of the question. But now there is an innovative solution: an Italian family company has developed solar panels that look like ordinary terracotta tiles and therefore fit perfectly into the appearance of such buildings. These solar panels not only offer an aesthetic alternative, but also an environmentally friendly way to provide monuments with renewable energy.
The invisible solar panels are still made by hand
The historical park of Pompeii already has these invisible solar panels in action. Conventional solar panels were out of the question for Gabriel Basel, Director of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, as they would destroy the special character of the ancient city. So that the extensive lighting of the park can still be fed with renewable energies, the aforementioned solar tiles had to be developed. They look exactly like the terracotta bricks used by the Romans.
The solar cells are incorporated by hand and covered with a translucent polymer mass. (Image: Dyaqua)
They are made by the small Italian family business Dyaqua. The company currently consists of four family members and two employees. The solar tiles are still made by hand. A polymer mass is applied over the photovoltaic cells, which lets light components through and can still be colored.
According to Dyaqua, it should also be possible to imitate the look of stone, wood and concrete, which means that the solar tiles are not just limited to roofs. In addition, it is possible to replace old roof tiles with the solar tiles instead of installing them on existing roofs, as is the case with conventional solar panels.
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The small family business has been working on the invisible solar panels for over six years and the installation in Pompeii was their first pilot project. As part of the EU-funded project Feelings the solar tiles will also be installed on buildings in Split, Croatia and Evora, Portugal in the coming months.
Incidentally, France also has big plans for photovoltaic systems. You can read more about the topic here:
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Multi-storey car parks instead of nuclear power plants: how France intends to supply more green energy in the near future
What do you think of this idea and would you also like to see such invisible solar panels in Europey? Tell us what you think about it in the comments!
