A number of Hydro’s aluminium customers are in the business of manufacturing solar panels to the European and North American markets. Aluminium contributes to these products in several ways.
One Hydro customer, Wolf Heiztechnik in Germany, makes aluminium collectors to capture solar energy. A recent addition is called TopSon F3, which features aluminium panels.
“These can either be built into the roof itself or attached to the roof surface. The energy effect will largely be the same, though the built-in version will of course be superior from an aesthetic point of view,” says development manager Robert Hiesbauer.
Aluminium sheet material proved to be an essential element to the TopSon F3. The challenge was to make solar panels hermetic, secure, corrosion resistant and easy to assemble.
 |
| Wolfs solar panel is made up of several layers, including an aluminium sheet from Hydro. |
Wolf found the solution in conjunction with the technical customer service department, headed by Martin Jahnke, at Hydro’s aluminium rolling mill in Hamburg. A specially designed aluminium collector enabled the collector glass, reflector panel complete with copper absorbers, and insulation material to be neatly housed.
Hiesbauer points out that this solution possesses a number of advantages by providing a completely impermeable construction and reduced number of components. It is lightweight and can easily be adapted for robot production. It has a non-slip grooved base that facilitates mounting on the roof’s surface. Weight reduction – its total weight is 40 kilos – is an obvious advantage.
Jahnke points out that the development of the collector has been a demanding task for Hydro: “It is imperative for the customer that we can deliver a product with the right alloy composition and formability, as well as an absolutely clean surface. Packaging presented a main challenge. The Hamburg company decided to use foil to be on the safe side.”
 |
Martin Jahnke (left) of Hydros technical customer service department for rolled products, and Wolf development manager Robert Hiesbauer cooperated on developing the right aluminium sheet.
|
In the US, Hydro customer Evergreen Solar also uses aluminium. Its products, many of which also wind up in Europe, depend on Hydro extrusions to hold the panel together and provide protection from the elements. As many installations are in remote locations, the dependability of aluminium is essential.
“We have three main markets: on grid, especially in places like Japan, Germany and some states in the US that have incentive programs; off grid, for vacation homes, remote telecommunications and signage; and rural electrification,” explains William Kanzer, director of marketing communications.
“There are 2 billion people without electricity, and solar panels can provide the power they need without having to run utility lines all over the countryside.” Says Ted Stull, head of fabrication at Hydro’s aluminium plant in North Liberty, Indiana: “We also helped design a more robust frame that could stand up to heavy snowfalls, giving them a leg up on their competition.”
