8 April 2024

KELLER Druckmesstechnik AG has chosen the central, urban location of the area surrounding Grüze railway station. The simple, rectangular volume sets a new standard in the neighbourhood. The south facade, with its movable photovoltaic elements in front, is a stance taken by the company. While the open, pergola-like access structure along the northern longitudinal facade mediates the scale of the existing buildings. Photo credits: Strut Architekten / Jürg Zimmerman.

Located in the heart of Winterthur (Switzerland) KELLER Druckmesstechnik AG’s new production site stands as a testament to the company’s commitment to sustainability and efficiency. The incorporation of a photovoltaic facade represents a bold step towards harnessing renewable energy sources and reducing carbon emissions.

On the south facade of the building, 3.300 mobile photovoltaic modules will be installed, hanging from a suitable facade grid. Thanks to intelligent control, the modules will be continuously facing the sun, increasing energy production by approximately 30 per cent.

A prototype of this system from Solskin has been installed on Empa’s NEST innovation building (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology) for almost a year. As a non-enclosed facade envelope, this solution can also be used as a sun shield.

In addition to the south facade, the entire roof and the southern slope will be covered with photovoltaic modules. With these systems, KELLER AG will be able to use over 80% of the solar energy produced directly for its own needs in the future. An additional battery, which can store the energy requirements for 30 households, will further increase independence. The battery also serves as an uninterruptible power supply.