AGC and Nozawa, New Construction Method for Installing Solar Panels on Building Exterior Materials

Image of a building with solar panels installed on the walls
(Source: AGC)

State during the test
(Source: AGC)

AGC and Nozawa announced on November 17 that they had jointly developed a new construction method for installing solar panels on the exterior walls of buildings. We are currently applying for a patent for the ASLOCK Rail Fastener Solar Panel Installation Method (provisional name). In the future, we will conduct trial sales for practical use in buildings such as commercial buildings and offices, aiming for full-scale sales in 2023.

The new construction method involves attaching support members to the extruded cement board "Asrock" sold by Nozawa and installing solar panels. The "Allock Rail Fastener Construction Method" sold by Nozawa since 2002 was applied. It is a method of installing stones and spandrels on the outside of ASRock in a dry process, and has excellent wind pressure resistance and earthquake resistance.

The know-how of Nozawa's exterior wall panel business and the know-how of the AGC Group's glass construction and solar power generation glass "Sunjoule" business were utilized. In order to install a solar panel on a wall, it was necessary until now to construct a base material (steel frame) or install it on a frame made of reinforced concrete (RC). The new construction method does not require large-scale foundation work, and can now be installed on steel-framed (S) wall materials, which are often used in offices.

In addition, it has the advantage of increasing the energy self-sufficiency rate by installing solar panels with high conversion efficiency, using thin and lightweight solar panel integrated exterior walls, and utilizing the exterior wall surface that is larger than the rooftop. .

It is said that they have already confirmed the safety against natural disasters such as earthquakes and strong winds. In the future, we will test construction at multiple properties and determine the specifications. Solar panels will be selected from commonly available products in consideration of durability, design, and cost effectiveness, and will be adopted from multiple manufacturers.