2016 can be termed as the year of breakthroughs in the sphere of buildings and projects. There have been new innovations in the zone such as walling system, ventilation system, lighting system  to list a few. Simultaneously, building sector saw several technological innovations such as ‘Building Information Model’. New guidelines are being drafted globally for the attainment of sustainability.

Keeping up to the spirit there has been a new advancement in solar power innovation in the sphere of sustainable buildings. ‘A Solar Mall it is! Bewildered, well you should be…

Image Source- nep-solar.com

CSIRO unraveled a solar-powered air-conditioning system to brisk Australian commercial buildings, thereby achieving greater energy efficiency.The Stockland Wendouree Shopping Centre in Victoria, Australia is using this solar-concentrating thermal technology as the solitary source of power for their air-conditioning system. Considering the limitation of earth’s resource and keeping up with the spirit of sustainability it is a noteworthy initiation. Apart from being a sustainable move this is highly strategical and is sure to reap long-term advantages. A shopping mall uses a huge chunk of power to inhibit with the large commercial structure but if you use natural ways in doing so it is economical for your pocket as well a great pathway for sustainable future.

The system is unique in its own way and one of its kind. It is a prototype model.The developed technology is the result of a $1.2 million cooperative project administered by CSIRO with Stockland Group and NEP Solar. Additionally, $520,000  funding came from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency. The system uses centralised solar thermal collectors to yield heat energy used to power the air conditioning system.

Discussed below are few unique points of its structure and design.

1. It is a closed-loop system that acts as a dehumidifier and uses two ‘desiccant’ wheels to separates moisture from the air
2. These wheels functions at variant temperatures, the high-temperature wheel use the yielded solar energy for permutation, while the low-temperature wheel does not need any external heat to operate
3. This solar air-con system is highly flexible, it only requires around 40 per cent less roof space than a traditional one
4. The system is created to address the high energy consumption at larger commercial spaces wherein heating and cooling fundamental makeup around 60 percent of total electricity use.
5. This solar desiccant air conditioning systems can shell out humidity contained fresh air into the buildings and is anticipated to significantly reduce HVAC electricity usage for large commercial buildings
6. The air conditioning system uses channel collectors to seize solar heat of around 150 to 200° C (302 to 392° F) and then store it in a 2,000-liter (528-US gal) thermal oil tank.
7. The air conditioning system is powered by NEP Solar’s trough collectors with heat stored in a thermal oil tank.
8. The system utilizes a heat cascading design

ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht is buoyant about their amalgamation with CSIRO on this technology. He believes that it has the potentiality to upgrade the effectiveness of solar thermal energy systems and stockpile to cater clean and reliable heating and cooling in commercial buildings.

CSIRO plans to spend upcoming 12 months supervising and evaluating the prototype to comprehend how well it can function in a commercial environment. Team CSIRO is quite assured that akin system will prove successful in diminishing the electric power requirements and costs.allied to supplying humidity in large commercial spaces.

The total  system costs around 1.3 million USD to create and install.

Curated by editor at  Wienerberger India

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Information Source-reneweconomy.com, Jetsongreen.com, Csiro.au

Feature Image Source- alluremedia.com