Building powered by solar facade in Australian first

Melbourne architecture practice Kennon have unveiled their project at 550 Spencer in the city's inner west, which is, according to the firm's release, "Australia's first building to generate its own onsite electricity through a solar panel facade."

With 1,182 solar panels comprising the facade, the building generates 142 kilowatts of electricity at its peak - 50 times the capacity of a typical residential rooftop solar panel system. Without the need for a rooftop system, this space is transformed into a terrace and garden space for occupants to inhabit.

Kennon worked with local and international suppliers to realise the integration of photovoltaic cells into the building's facade, whose pleated configuration incorporates solid solar panels on the north and clear glazing on the south. According to the architect, their approach balances the need for solar capture and energy generation with indoor thermal comfort, earning the project 5.5-star Green Star and 5-star NABERS ratings.

The electricity generated by the facade is used immediately, eliminating the requirement for battery storage. As the building is self-sufficient in its energy use, any surplus energy is fed back into the electricity grid.

The absence of gas within the project means that the building's energy use is entirely fossil-free. The architect estimates that the building's design reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 70 tonnes annually, thus achieving carbon neutrality within its lifespan.

According to Kennon, 550 Spencer reimagines how the built environment can be a positive force, rather than a contributor to, the climate crisis. "By harnessing the power of sunlight, this development challenges traditional approaches to energy use, offering a glimpse of sustainable architecture where innovation and aesthetics can coexist and unite," the architect noted.