Renewable energy generation in the facade

Aldowa realizes unique cladding solutions for national and international landmarks. In addition, it is also a player that is constantly committed to sustainable and innovative façade solutions. A good example of this is the heat-winning façade, which was developed together with Akzo Nobel, Calosol and TNO, and was successfully received during its unveiling at Aldowa in Rotterdam.

The heat gain façade offers an innovative solution for sustainable energy generation in the façade. "The concept absorbs solar heat in the winter for heating and dissipates heat at night or from shaded areas for cooling in the summer. The heat gain wall works in conjunction with a heat pump to meet the heat demand. The system operates quietly, flexibly and can be adapted to different building requirements," explained Melissa Campos of Aldowa.

Unique features

The heat gain wall panels are designed to gain energy even without direct sunlight. "Although sunlight significantly increases the yield, the panels can also absorb heat from the air," Melissa said. "In addition, the panels are able to release heat, so the system can also provide cooling." In terms of design flexibility, Melissa says all shapes and colors are possible. "The only limiting factor is the maximum width dimension of the aluminum base plate. Within these limits, the system offers a lot of design freedom. Dark colors harvest more heat than light colors, but thanks to the special coating, even white panels are cost-effective due to the infrared-absorbing coating."

Durable in installation and use

The working prototype, on display and on display at Aldowa, demonstrates both functionalities: on one side of the arrangement, the façade panels emit heat, while on the other side, cooling occurs. "This demonstrates the potential for both heating and cooling," Melissa emphasizes. "The use of aluminum contributes to higher efficiency thanks to the material's good thermal conductivity." Sustainability is not only in the one-time investment, but especially in everyday use. Architects and consultants are encouraged to take into account the building's energy requirements to match the available renewable resources. "By combining solar panels and thermal wall panels, we can make great strides in fulfilling both energy and heat needs. This integrated solution offers significantly higher efficiency than traditional air-to-water heat pumps and also eliminates the need for soil drilling."

Aldowa is the partner for sustainable and innovative facade solutions. "We integrate solar panels, thermal wall systems and high quality aluminum and aluminum-composite facades to create the ideal facade. Together with our clients, we examine the specific needs of each project and offer customized solutions, such as solar panels, heat-wall systems and low-carbon aluminum. So with Aldowa, you consciously choose a future-proof facade."