One of Japan’s largest office building with glass walls that generate electricity

Taiyo Kogyo Corporation

(Tokyo headquarters: Setagaya-ku, Tokyo; Osaka headquarters: Yodogawa-ku, Osaka; President: Hidefumi Araki), a “membrane manufacturer” that develops large tents, TM trusses, solar power generation systems, and other products, has recently achieved Japan’s largest*1 “human- and environment-friendly office building” covered with see-through solar panels, (Tokyo Head Office: Setagaya-ku, Tokyo; Osaka Head Office: Yodogo-ku, Osaka; President: Hidefumi Araki) has realized one of Japan’s ^largest*1 “people- and environment-friendly office buildings” covered with see-through solar panels.

Asahi Dengyo’s second headquarters building, completed this September in Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture, is one of the largest office buildings in Japan with see-through solar panels that allow sunlight to penetrate the entire south and east facades. In terms of functionality, the glass walls, which allow sunlight into the building while maintaining a view of the outdoors just as conventional windows do, provide heat shielding and thermal insulation to save energy, and solar power generation to create energy.
The see-through solar panels used for the glass walls this time are thin-film solar cells with slits to allow light to pass through and to generate electricity. The building has installed 646 see-through solar panels, with a maximum output of 40.78 kW, on the east wall, which is approximately 40 m wide and 16 m high, and 221 panels on the south wall, which is approximately 14 m wide and 16 m high. When combined with the panels on the rooftop, the maximum output reaches 76.48 kW, which is supplied to the building’s electrical equipment and the surplus is sold to the power company.
In addition, by transmitting 10% of sunlight (visible light), it creates a soft light space like a “komorebi” without glare, requiring little daytime lighting. On the other hand, it also blocks more than 90% of the heat from the sun’s rays, keeping you cool with its heat-shielding effect.
See-through solar panels block 99% of ultraviolet rays, protecting indoor furniture and materials from UV degradation. The insulated double-glazing construction also prevents condensation and provides heat insulation, and since the glass is also laminated, even if the glass should break due to flying debris, it is safe because no fragments will fall.

Taiyo Kogyo Corporation was the first in the world to commercialize see-through solar panels, and began selling them in 1996. In addition to the power generation function of conventional solar panels, the see-through solar panels transmit high-quality light and have been used in approximately 200 projects, mainly in various public facilities and large commercial facilities.
In the future, we intend to contribute to the creation of comfortable and bright buildings and buildings aiming for ZEB, not only in the conventional public facility market but also in the private building market, as solar cell panels that combine energy conservation and energy creation.

*1: The expression “one of the largest in Japan” is based on Taiyo Kogyo’s own research.

• Building name: Asahi Dengyo Corporation Second Head Office Building
• Location: 430 Nishi-ichi, Minami-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture
• Use: Office building
• Design: Kurokawa Architects & Engineers, Inc.
• Construction: Omotogumi Corp. and Hachiya Kogyo Co.
• Completion: September 15, 2018

• Category: Thin-film multi-junction silicon solar cells
• Size: 855-905 mm x 998 mm (22.5 mm thickness)
• Weight: 34-37Kg
• Nominal maximum output: 58-60W