Zurich Soft Robotics equips alpine chalet with Solskin facade

(CONNECT) Zurich Soft Robotics (ZSR) has equipped an Alpine chalet with its dynamic, intelligent Solskin solar facade. This order in the St.Gallen municipality of Wildhaus-Alt St. Johann is the first application for a private customer. According to a statement from the spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH), which was founded in 2022 and is based in Technopark Zurich, the dynamic solar system on the former ski lift cabin was designed to improve energy efficiency and aesthetics, preserve the alpine charm of the existing architecture and optimize natural daylight.

Solskin consists of numerous small and thin photovoltaic panels mounted on actuators. These in turn sit on a metal support net and are moved individually by compressed air. This allows the panels to follow the sun and increase the yield of solar power by up to 40 percent compared to static panels, according to the information provided.

At the same time, these panels also function as a dynamic shading system. The software automatically adjusts the adaptive solar facade using artificial intelligence and self-learning algorithms to maximize solar yield, heat reduction and daylight. "Among other benefits, depending on project details, orientation, Solskin surface, etc., it can reduce the need for cooling and heating of the space behind it by up to 80 percent, helping to save on operating costs," Vesna Kosorić, Head of Sales and Architecture at ZSR, is quoted as saying in an ETH report.

"At first it was a dream, then a gamble," ZSR quotes Thomas Greber, the owner of the chalet, in its press release. "Together, we have achieved more with this facade than we could have imagined: a very satisfactory construction time and a convincing result in all areas. We are happy with that." ce/mm