The prototype building powered a cattle barn, office, and residence off-the-grid for a full month
AUDUBON, Iowa (June 18, 2025) — Accu-Steel, a leader in fabric-covered building solutions, has successfully completed its first fully off-the-grid month using a solar-integrated building system. Installed at the company’s headquarters, the prototype structure powers itself, a cattle building, an outbuilding, an onsite office, and the home of founder Jason Owen—all without drawing a single kilowatt-hour from the electrical grid.
“This is energy independence in practice—not just a concept,” said John Klehn, managing partner for Accu-Steel. “We generated more power than we used, stayed completely off the grid, and proved this system can work for everyday ag operations.”
Even through three consecutive days of limited sunlight, the battery never dipped below a 49% charge. Additional performance data from May 4 to June 4, 2025, is as follows:
● Energy generated: 1,828.8 kilowatt-hours
● Energy consumed: 1,537.4 kilowatt-hours
● Battery charge: 944.2 kilowatt-hours
● Battery discharge: 953.0 kilowatt-hours
This project was developed in partnership with solar technology company Pvilion, combining Accu-Steel’s infrastructure expertise with advanced solar integration. The building—currently used as storage for equipment, overflow commodities, and general warehousing—integrates flexible rooftop solar panels and a commercial-grade battery system that operates as a self-contained microgrid.
With flexible applications for cattle barns, storage, and equipment housing, this building venture represents a scalable, real-world solution for producers looking to reduce risk and take control of rising energy costs.
“This removes a major variable from a farmer’s balance sheet,” said Klehn. “It’s one less input to forecast. One less cost to worry about fluctuating. And it builds resilience into the entire operation.”
As energy demand rises across the U.S.—driven in part by data centers, AI, and automation—grid instability and power pricing are becoming real concerns for business owners and operators. Accu-Steel’s solution addresses that head-on by giving producers direct control over their own power supply.
“This isn’t a futuristic concept,” Klehn said. “It’s an application-ready building that’s already doing the work. We’re taking what we’ve learned and refining it to deliver something that’s field-ready, farmer-tested, and scalable.”
“What’s great about a product at this scale is that it can be used as either a primary power source or as an emergency backup power supply to enhance farm resiliency, depending on the need,” said Colin Touhey, co-founder and CEO of Pvilion. “These systems have been used for large rugged military applications like powering aircraft hangars and more—it’s great to see this technology now become available for the agricultural space. These systems are more than capable of powering everyday farm needs whether it be irrigation pumps and fans, power tool charging and operating, heating and cooling, lighting, or any other heavy equipment needs. We are thrilled to see it take off in agricultural settings with Accu-Steel’s expertise!”
Accu-Steel plans to introduce commercial availability of solar-integrated buildings in 2026, with a focus on cattle barns and other general farm-use applications.
ABOUT ACCU-STEEL
Accu-Steel is a proud manufacturer of fabric-covered structures that are Built Around You. With customizable, flexible, and high-quality solutions, Accu-Steel serves a wide range of industries, including grain storage, livestock, public works, sports and recreation, aviation, retail and more. The company was founded on a century farm in 1995 and is still proudly Made in the USA.
Pvilion designs flexible, solar-integrated fabric products that generate electricity anywhere the sun shines. Backed by decades of expertise in lightweight structures and clean energy, Pvilion delivers scalable solutions for military, commercial, and architectural applications—from tents and canopies to charging stations and building facades.
With the increased popularity of agrivoltaics, more farmers have considered shifting away from traditional generators than ever before. Pvilion’s solar powered fabric technology is bringing even more flexibility to farmers and site owners that want to increase their power-generation autonomy through the use of lightweight solar and battery systems.
Pvilion and Accu-Steel‘s 12,000-square-foot Industrial Solar Structure integrates 42 kW of solar power, as well as a cobalt-free lithium ferro phosphate (LFP) chemistry energy storage with integrated battery management system (BMS) that can store 135 kWh, providing a turnkey system with enough power to replace a 25-50kW generator. This provides users with more autonomy and enables the building to supply its own power for needs with applications such as irrigation pumps and fans, power tool charging and operating, heating and cooling, lighting, and more. These building and power systems can be custom sized to meet the exact needs of end-users.
On-Farm Applications The power generated could meet nearly all farm electricity needs — from everyday essentials to long-term energy independence.
Examples include powering homes, shop lights, water heaters, heating and cooling systems, as well as heavy equipment like front end loaders, skid steerers, excavators, man-lifts, and more.
Great for charging and operating large amounts of small equipment like lawnmowers and handheld tools.
As farms continue to adopt automation, this power source supports the vision of a fully self-sustaining operation.
Rental Structure Applications Pvilion and Accu-Steel’s Industrial Solar Structures offer a durable, high-performance alternative to typical commercial job site structures — while still being temporary and easy to relocate.
System generates enough power to run high-demand spaces like on-site break rooms, eliminating the need for diesel generators or long-distance electrical hookups.
Ideal for overnight equipment storage and recharging: ATVs, golf carts, hand tools, and machinery.
In cold climates, these enclosed structures allow diesel-powered equipment to stay plugged in and ready to go, reducing delays caused by cold starts.
Pvilion’s patented solar technology offers a flexible solution in place of regular fabric, where traditional heavy glass solar panels would not work. The fabric is uniquely integrated with thin, flexible, lightweight solar panels. It is designed to be waterproof, fire-retardant, UV-resistant, and durable enough to withstand extreme wind loads and weather conditions.
System Benefits:
Independent: Provides power without the need for fuel or grid connection.
Intelligent: Data monitoring enabled
Efficient: Reduces fuel consumption up to 100%
Durable: Capable of withstanding extreme weather conditions.
Lightweight: Reduces solar panel weight by 40%
Scalable: Systems are modular and can easily be increased to meet power needs.
About Accu-Steel
Accu-Steel is a proud manufacturer of fabric-covered structures that are Built Around You. With customizable, flexible, and high-quality solutions, Accu-Steel serves a wide range of industries, including grain storage, livestock, public works, sports and recreation, aviation, retail and more. The company was founded on a century farm in 1995 and is still proudly Made in the USA.
Pvilion and Accu-Steel Inc. are testing a heavy-duty solar-powered industrial and agricultural building that can supply power for farmers. The fabric is NovaShield® HDPE. Image: Pvilion
Solar-structure manufacturer Pvilion, of Brooklyn, N.Y., is partnering with fabric ag building manufacturer Accu-Steel Inc., headquartered in Templeton, Iowa, to test an “agrivoltaic” structure for farmers. With the addition of walls, it could serve as an off-grid shop or livestock shelter or have other uses.
Image: Pvilion
The 12,000-square-foot structure integrates 42 kW of solar power and a lithium-ion battery bank that can store 135 kWh, allowing the building to supply its own power for typical needs such as lighting and computers as well as the energy needed to run equipment including tools for cutting and welding, irrigation pumps and fans, or space heaters for keeping livestock comfortable. But that’s just the start.
Image: Pvilion
“The solar fabric roof and electrical system is electrically connected to the main electrical panel for the entire farm, including the owner’s home, offices and manufacturing facility,” says Robert Lerner, co-founder and vice president of Pvilion. “Anything that uses power at the farm, house and factory can draw power from the solar roof and battery bank. If the electrical grid goes down, this solar roof is sized to be able to power the entire facility.”
The system can pull power from the grid to charge the batteries when they fall below a certain threshold, but the power grid is essentially backup power for the farm.
Image: Pvilion
Uses of the structure and the battery bank and solar array as well as the system’s electrical and structural performance are under evaluation by the companies as they develop the business case for the product. With this installation, Pvilion is also testing two different ways to adhere the solar panels to the fabric. The building and installation would qualify for a federal solar tax credit.
North American Clean Energy Magazine | March/April 2025 | Julia Fowler
In any state of emergency, two of the most essential resources are shelter and power. Failing to immediately address the unequivocal need for shelter and power during times of crisis leaves communities vulnerable and limits emergency responders’ ability to provide crucial support.
The aftermath of unexpected disaster
Disaster can strike unexpectedly anywhere at any time. States of emergency can be declared due to natural disasters such as earthquakes, wildfires, hurricanes, extreme temperatures, tornadoes, wildfires, and floods. Public health crises, civil emergencies, and military conflict are also leading causes of states of emergency.
According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, there were 27 weather and climate disaster events within the United States that were large enough to cause losses exceeding $1 billion each in 2024. These events included flooding, droughts, hurricanes, tropical cyclones, wildfires, and winter storms.
When disaster strikes and a state of emergency is declared, the appropriate emergency management teams will take action in the affected communities. In the US, emergency response operations are typically organized by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Acting fast to address the most essential needs
In times of disaster, shelters act as the base for many essential functions. It is one of the most basic requirements for survival — often taught in entry level psychology classes, under the popularly known Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs, shelter falls under the most elemental human need, physiological needs. In fact, shelter is so critical that it is recognized as one of the “core clusters” by the United Nations for greater coordination in humanitarian crises. The cluster approach is activated by the Emergency Relief Coordinator as an approach for non-refugee humanitarian emergencies to efficiently meet the most critical needs of affected populations.
Not only does shelter act as a place of refuge and safety, but it creates space for privacy, dignity, sense of security, treatment, and recovery. Temporary shelters provide rapid solutions during the response phase of emergencies allowing for smoother transitions toward recovery following disaster.
It is imperative that emergency shelter solutions are easily accessible and rapidly deployable in any setting. Temporary shelter may be used to set-up resiliency hubs, medical facilities, temporary housing, distribution centers, supply storage, communication and command centers, and many other first-response hubs.
The unequivocal need for power
Power is a vital resource in times of crisis; without access to a power source, there is no access to medical equipment, heating and cooling systems, communication tools, lighting, water supply, and other critical devices. In remote locations and areas left with disruptions to the local power grid, the need for a reliable power source can be life or death.
The power of solar in times of crisis
Historically, traditional diesel generators have been viewed as the standard power source in times of emergency. Today, more users are considering solar to be the ideal solution for backup power sources as more battery systems and clean energy sources become accessible through wide-ranging system sizing, user friendly interfaces, improved safety features, and financial incentives.
Aside from being environmentally conscious, there are many advantages when opting for solar in place of traditional generators. For example, one of the greatest benefits of choosing solar is the drastic reduction in the need for fuel.Since solar power is continuously derived from photovoltaic panels, the need for fuel can be completely eliminated in many settings, and when solar cannot be the sole source of power, the generator system size required is drastically reduced, as is the need for fuel resupply. Additionally, the battery systems used in solar power systems are completely silent – unlike the loud and ear damaging roar of a diesel generator – improving conditions in emergency settings by minimizing noise pollution.
New technology on the market
Today, companies specializing in unique innovative technology like this have successfully created solar powered fabric that is integrated with lightweight photovoltaic cells, making solar power more readily accessible, significantly lighter, and more resilient. Without glass panels, solar can be accessed in more settings, easily erected, and used without the fear of glass panels cracking or breaking.
With Using this advanced solar technology, companies like Brooklyn-based Pvilion are designing turnkey solutions that provide rapidly deployable shelter that is connected to mobile battery kits. that These provide enough power for equipment, heating and cooling systems, communication tools, lighting, water supply, and other critical devices. Thanks to the flexible nature of the solar fabric and modularity of the mobile battery systems, Solar Powered Integrated Structure (SPIS) kits are easily packed up for travel and storage and can be assembled with minimal manpower within minutes.
Additionally, since the solar and batteries are integrated with the shelter system, the entire Solar Powered Integrated Structure (SPIS) kits qualify for a 30 percent tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act. Under this act, nonprofits, government agencies, and other tax-exempt entities may still benefit through the Elective Pay Provision.
Author is Julia Fowler at Pvilion, which integrates solar cells with fabric, and builds fabric products that generate electricity. Pvilion | www.pvilion.com
See below for the original publication’s press clippings:
Though conservative backlash against the ESG movement continues in the United States, anti-ESG legislation does not necessarily reflect public opinion. The principles of sustainment, a set of guidelines used by the U.S. military, offer inspiration for businesses looking for alternative language to describe their sustainability efforts in this environment.
The solar startup Pvilion builds flexible, transportable, solar-enabled structures for customers including the United States military.
As the political temperature of the corporate ESG (environment, social and governance) movement continues to rise, some business leaders are searching for alternative language to describe their sustainability efforts. They may not have to look far. The principles of sustainment are key guidelines for United States military logistics, and they sound very much like the sustainability goals articulated by the corporate ESG movement.
Sustainability is sustainment
In parallel with corporate sustainability efforts, the U.S. Army lists foresight, efficiency, flexibility and a willingness to adopt new technologies as essential to the principles of sustainment, emphasizing that they must be integrated throughout an operation, similar to the integrated model that underpins the ESG movement.
TriplePundit learned more about the parallels between sustainability and sustainment during a visit to the Brooklyn solar startup Pvilion. In addition to producing architectural solar systems, Pvilion manufactures flexible, transportable, solar-enabled canopies for the U.S. military and other customers.
Colin Touhey, Pvilion CEO, drew attention to tax credits, aesthetic appeal and other benefits of solar-embedded architectural structures. The company integrates solar cells into fabrics to create products like canopies, tents and building facades that generate electricity. Transportable solar energy systems can also reduce dependency on diesel generators, an important logistical consideration for military operations in remote locations where fuel transportation is difficult, expensive and potentially dangerous, he said.
Pvilion integrates solar cells into fabrics to create versatile, energy-generating products for the U.S. military, among other customers. (Image courtesy of Pvilion)
Workforce benefits are additional factors. Based on conversations with hands-on personnel who repair and maintain diesel generators, Touhey found that solar energy systems are easier to work with and support a more healthful, less noisy environment. They also avoid logistical complications related to diesel generator breakdowns, parts replacement and fuel supply.
“People who work with [diesel] generators are our biggest advocates,” Touhey said. “Sustainment focuses on the customer’s functions.”
The next steps for Pvilion include developing a self-forming solar canopy, which the Air Force is currently demonstrating. Equipped with a solar-powered robotic system, the canopy can assemble itself in just 60 seconds. A standard canopy requires several people and about 30 minutes to set up manually.
In addition to the benefits of solar energy, the self-forming canopy demonstrates how sustainable technology can have a ripple effect on other elements of an operation. “If you need fewer people, you need less water, fuel and food,” Touhey said.
Sustaining national security with renewable energy
On a larger scale, the Department of Defense began installing utility-sized solar arrays and rooftop solar panels at its bases during former President Barack Obama’s administration to improve energy security and resiliency at its facilities. The new federal energy policy announced in an executive order by President Donald Trump last month may place some obstacles in the way moving forward, but military analysts continue to make the national security case for renewable energy. Their perspective mirrors the sustainability concerns of businesses.
Researchers from the international security think tank Stimson Center, for example, describe the benefits of on-site renewable energy in an opinion piece for Defense News. They note that many U.S. bases are vulnerable to energy supply disruption due to their reliance on the civilian grid for electricity and diesel fuel transportation networks for backup power.
“It is too expensive for the Department of Defense to fortify the entire electric grid; it is far easier to ensure energy resilience on bases instead,” they wrote.
Next steps for the language of sustainability
Some businesses changed the words they use to discuss sustainability with clients and customers when conservative backlash against the ESG movement accelerated during former President Joe Biden’s administration. Still, anti-ESG legislation does not necessarily reflect public opinion. In 2023, for example, the communications firm Rokk Solutions found that a strong bipartisan majority of voters recognize they personally benefit from corporate conservation efforts and other specific actions.
A survey conducted last fall by the research firm YouGov on behalf of Whole Foods also underscored the popularity of corporate sustainability efforts among younger consumers, finding that almost 75 percent of Generation Z consumers are concerned about the climate, 70 percent support climate-smart agriculture, and more than 50 percent choose brands that emphasize local sourcing and environmental protection.
“The study reinforces a growing demand among younger generations for clear information about sustainability to make informed purchasing decisions,” according to YouGov.
The strategic planning firm Trajectory Partnership also emphasizes the need for clarity and specificity. Everyday language is a more effective way for businesses to communicate sustainability, according to a survey the firm conducted last year. “Many terms such as ’carbon neutral’ and ’net zero’ are either poorly understood by consumers or polarize opinion,” according to Trajectory. “Other terms such as ’locally sourced’ or ’recycled’ are much better understood.”
A new survey from the software company Workiva also indicates the corporate sustainability movement is a permanent trend, regardless of politics. Among other findings, 97 percent of executives surveyed said sustainability reporting will be a business advantage within two years, and 85 percent are continuing their climate disclosure plans despite the shifting political environment.
Finding the right words to reach consumers and clients in the U.S. while competing in the global marketplace is more important now than ever. The months and years ahead will challenge the ability of U.S. business leaders to communicate openly and effectively about their ESG programs. Still, in Europe and elsewhere the decarbonization movement is accelerating, and consumers will not stop demanding transparency.
Coldplay’s performance powered by Pvilion. Photo courtesy of Pvilion
INDUSTRY CITY — Colin Touhey, co-founder of Pvilion and lifelong Park Sloper, believes solar can be our main energy source, not just because of how fast it’s growing but also because of how much cheaper it is than fossil fuels. Solar costs have dropped 90% in the last decade. And, if part of an efficient system of batteries and other renewables, as California has proven, solar can replace fossil fuels entirely.
But, one of the restrictions of solar panels is their confinement to, well, panels. To push the boundaries of solar, Pvilion pioneers products with solar cells integrated into fabric — right here in Brooklyn.
The Eagle met with Touhey and the team in Sunset Park overlooking Gowanus Bay. “Industry City was able to find us a happy medium between a nice quality office and manufacturing space — a warehouse, freight trucks — it’s a hard thing to find in Brooklyn,” he said, stressing his appreciation for Blocpower, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and the job training benefits of being in Brooklyn. “It’s not just talk; it’s really happening.”
Pvilion offers adaptable, lightweight solar power for everything from disaster relief shelters to concert tours, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Half of its products are temporary military relocatable structures and half focus on landscape architecture.
The urgent necessity of alternative power
The 2016 Paris Agreement, which President “Drill, baby, drill” Trump recently pulled out of, claimed to “pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees C above preindustrial levels” when permafrost thaws, releasing more greenhouse gases.
New research using AI shows a very high likelihood of 2.0 degrees of warming for most of the globe by 2040 and 3.0 degrees C by mid-century. Even if we aggressively reduce emissions, 76.5% of Earth will see 3.0 degrees C by 2100.
At this point, we’ll have to start the process of decarbonization.
It’s evidently becoming difficult to keep track of the factors contributing to climate change. Global forests emitted more than they absorbed in 2023. Last year, 41% of the Arctic, normally a carbon sink, became a carbon source, mostly from Alaskan permafrost thaw.
Globally, emissions increased by 2% due to the absence of legislation. Under Biden, the U.S. dropped emissions by a whopping 0.2% last year, but they likely will increase under Trump, who recently ordered the removal of the climate change page from the EPA’s website.
With ever-increasing energy demands from technologies like cryptocurrency mining and AI, we need more alternative energy options. That’s where Pvilion comes in with a highly adaptable solution.
What exactly can solar fabric do?
There’s a lot you can do with solar cells integrated into fabric. Traditional solar panels are large slabs of glass and metal weighing around 80 pounds. “This is five times bigger and weighs 50 pounds. Two people can pop this up,” Touhey told the Eagle, holding a folded accordion solar array.
Because it’s flexible, the chemistry is a little different, but Touhey says Pvillion’s solar fabric functions just as well as its more cumbersome counterpart. Fashioning a solar fabric hat could technically charge your phone. “The surface area to charge a cell phone is about an 8 ½” by 11” piece of paper.”
The company specializes in 10 forms of tents, including thinner options that fold and more rigid ones. The most popular mass-produced application robotically self-assembles, providing shelter and power.
I followed Touhey into a military-grade tent with a floor, walls, windows, doors, lights, plugs and an HVAC unit — all built into a system that unfolds at the push of a button from a pneumatic tire cart housing the battery. Together, the entire self-sustaining package weighs hundreds of pounds, but a motor in the cart makes it easy to trolley off-road. The package contains a lithium iron phosphate battery (LFP) system that automatically regulates when to expend energy or charge.
LFPs, the second most popular type of lithium-ion battery after lithium nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) batteries, hold less energy than NMCs but expend it faster and charge faster. They’re generally better for the environment due to the absence of cobalt, and they’re safer, allowing for airdrop, which is essential for Pvilion.
The tents are pivotal for disaster relief and humanitarian aid. Pvillion works with Air Force contingency response teams — the first to arrive at a disaster and prepare semi-permanent infrastructure for the Red Cross. “If you go to the middle of the desert and you need 10 tents, the amount of fuel you have to bring in is insane,” Touhey clarified, “you’re running generators the entire time on diesel fuel, so the idea that you can go to zero is pretty meaningful for them.”
Pvilion has provided refugee tents for displaced Ukrainians in Poland, but they also collaborated with Tommy Hilfiger on two limited edition solar-powered jackets that can charge a tablet.
The two limited edition solar-powered jackets from Pvilion’s collaboration with Tommy Hilfiger overlooking Gowanus Bay. Brooklyn Eagle photo by Andrew Scott
For the last two years, Pvilion has been working on a rental and service program specifically for the five boroughs, but renting is also part of their regular product line.
One of their recent clients was Coldplay. With a fabric solar array in the empty seats behind the stage, Pvilion supplied a significant portion of the band’s electricity, which would have otherwise been all diesel fuel. “Cause they don’t get power from the stadium,” Touhey told the Eagle, “They have to power 100% of their stuff even though they’re in a permanent stadium.”
Because it was a pilot program, diesel supplemented the array, but Pvilion is confident that a larger battery system would allow performers touring stadiums to cut gas completely. “It’s just a matter of cost and scale.”
Pvillion also has semi-permanent canopies at the New York Botanical Garden that can be moved around. The canopies can charge anything from food trucks to farmers’ market point-of-sale machines to cell phones. They crafted a solar carport, about the size of four parking spots, that can power four car chargers, as well as a cafe trellis for Google. For Home Depot, Pvillion developed solar awnings that can charge heavy equipment.
The first solar fabric
Pvillion co-founder Robert Lerner got involved with using fabrics as a substrate for solar cells in the mid-90s.
Lerner was working at FTL Design Engineering when Cooper Hewit hired the firm to do an experimental design for an exhibit on the history of solar energy. Kiss & Cathcart, another design firm hired to collaborate with FTL on the exhibit, created a pavilion with semitransparent amorphous silicon solar panels laminated into glass.
Lerner and his team asked Kiss & Cathcart if they could use the same solar cells to create a portable tent, and with some funding from the New York State Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), it became the world’s first solar fabric.
The U.S. Army eventually contacted them after seeing it in a magazine and awarded the group a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract with Kiss & Cathcart, who got most of the money to develop the solar cells, which were uncommon at the time.
A fabric sample with integrated solar cells. Brooklyn Eagle photo by Andrew Scott
Their first product was called The Power of Shade: a tent that went over other tents, reducing the heat load on the inner tent while generating electronic power.
“The research and development process [with the military] is so slow that we moved to the private sector,” Touhey added. After going from SBIR funding to NYSERDA funding, they got some private investors and moved into the commercial market. The team split into FTL Solar — when Touhey joined — before finally forming Pvilion.
Around 2019, Pvillion went back to the military through a program in the Air Force for small businesses with commercial products called AFWERX, securing $75,000 to meet with people for 3 months. “They pay you to travel around and ask people, ‘What would you use this for?’” One person might want it for air traffic control towers and another for air conditioning in a tent.
After submitting a report, Touhey said, “We’re going to build these prototypes to prove this technology we developed for the New York Botanical Gardens works for air traffic control towers.”
Looking forward
In the near future, Pvilion will supply New York State with portable solar charging stations for electric construction and agriculture equipment. It’s technically two programs, one replacing generators on construction sites here in Brooklyn and the other doing the same for farming upstate.
Electric industrial and construction are essential, but clean charging infrastructure is necessary. “Otherwise, you’re just using a diesel generator to charge an electric bulldozer. That’s not really solving your problem.” Touhey hopes to partner with some bigger companies on this.
There are countless potential applications of solar fabric. Floating solar came up. Even for large buildings that can’t handle the weight of solar panels, Pvilion offers something that weighs 10 times less. “There are a lot of buildings where the roofs and the actual structures themselves are fabric,” Touhey said, mentioning cattle barns, salt sheds, and an Accu-Steel-style tent just outside.
He gestured out the window to a chainlink construction fence with a privacy screen, “All of that fence is fabric, right? Solarize that, you’re good — you know?”
“There’s free energy all over the world,” Touhey went on, “The idea that any piece of fabric that’s getting hit by the sun is an opportunity to generate electricity was pretty intriguing to me … It’s a big opportunity that is untapped.”
Architecture New York State Magazine | December 2024 | Robert Lerner
AIA New York State recently shared an article about photovoltaic tensile structures by Pvilion co-founder, Robert Lerner, in the December issue of Architecture New York State Magazine.
Courtesy of AIA New York State
Courtesy of AIA New York State
Courtesy of AIA New York State
To view the full December issue of Architecture New York State Magazine, click here.
In recent weeks, Pvilion team members visited USAFE at Spangdahlem AFB in Germany to install Pvilion SPIS on aircraft hangars.
The solar power generated will be used to power the entire hangar, including the structure’s hydraulic doors. The SPIS fabric can be easily removed, packed up, and used for mobile applications when needed.
This application of Pvilion’s Solar Powered Fabric provides a uniquely flexible solution for large industrial buildings in a variety of settings.
Hangars, warehouses, agricultural facilities, and all other large industrial structures can use Pvilion Solar Powered Fabric to retroactively use lightweight solar power, regardless of the building’s shape.
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Joseph Gessert, 52nd Civil Engineer Squadron electrical systems technician, showcases the Solar Sentinel system to command first sergeants from across the Air Force at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Nov. 19, 2024. The command first sergeants learned how the Solar Sentinel system captures solar energy and then uses it to power hardened aircraft shelters across the installation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Albert Morel)
Pvilion’s patented solar technology is integrated with thin, flexible, lightweight solar panels. It is designed to be waterproof, fire-retardant, UV-resistant, and durable enough to withstand extreme wind loads and weather conditions. It can be added to existing temporary or permanent structures like this aircraft hangar.
To watch the video about this project, click here.
How about a tent that produces the electricity necessary to satisfy the needs of campers or field hospitals? Pvilion, a U.S. company based in Brooklyn, New York, can make them for you, following your specifications in terms of size and preferred material. Is this the new frontier of solar energy applications?
When we think about renewable energy, we generally think wind and solar. These days, solar panels are very popular. We can have a large number of them, arranged in rows, and this becomes a large solar power plant connected to the electric grid that can supply enough electricity to satisfy the power needs of thousands of homes. Or we can have some panels on the rooftops of individual structures, commercial buildings, or homes, that will satisfy the electricity needs of those buildings.
Because of significant cost reductions in the manufacturing of solar panels, in the last few years, prices for solar have plummeted worldwide. Hence, a huge demand increase. Along with the rest of the world, in the U.S., there has been an explosion of demand for solar panels, especially in California, the U.S. state traditionally in the lead when it comes to adopting innovative, renewable energy solutions.
But now we see that in the U.S., demand has peaked. While the market is still good, there is far less enthusiasm for solar. In part, this has to do with cost. While costs have come down, now the big savings in the U.S. are gone.
And here are some reasons. Most solar panels are imported from China, by far the largest world producer (about 80 percent of total supplies). U.S. providers now want to rely more on U.S.-made panels. However, these panels cost more because the U.S. industrial base for solar is much smaller. Therefore, no economies of scale. And then customers now have to deal with higher installation costs. Besides, the generous schemes whereby utilities in the past paid good prices for excess electricity supplied to them by individual households equipped with solar panels have been phased out. Therefore, while overall the cost of panels is down, the huge economic advantages that existed until recently now have largely disappeared.
Another drawback with these conventional solar panels is that they are rigid structures, therefore not easily adjustable to the specific needs of individual customers, while other needs could not be met at all.
Enter Pvilion. This company has come up with innovations that make solar more appealing for buyers who need customized products. Working with specialists who have optimized the design of various types of tents and coverings, large and small, Pvilion developed a technology to embed solar panels into various fabrics.
This way, one can have tents and coverings with solar energy generation embedded in them that can be easily folded and transported, just like regular tents. With this innovation, new markets for solar power can be opened and developed. Think of tents and other movable structures used by the military in remote areas, field hospitals in battle zones, or first responders supplying people stranded by hurricanes or floods.
Now all of these entities can pack tents with embedded solar panels that can be folded, unfolded, and set up on-site, without the need to transport clunky solar panels to provide power to the camps. Likewise, no need to transport heavy generators and all the fuel necessary to power them. With solar-powered tents, first responders or expeditionary military forces can have the power supply they need without adding the weight and inconvenience of loading up extra equipment.
The same value proposition applies to the organizers of major events, such as big concerts. Instead of carrying heavy generators for lights and electronic instruments and all the fuel necessary to power them, the whole power supply will be in the canvas of the movable tents or coverings that will have to be carried anyway to provide enclosed spaces for the events.
Thanks to Pvilion’s customized products, these end-users can have at the same time tents, canopies, shelter structures, and power generation. By recognizing these new markets, Pvilion has broadened the potential customer base for solar energy solutions.
For more than 75 years, the International Achievement Awards (IAA) recognize outstanding and innovative projects representing the latest accomplishments in design and manufacture incorporating specialty fabrics. The 46-category competition, sponsored by ATA (formerly known as IFAI) since 1946, is an excellent opportunity for ATA members and non-members to display work, gain professional recognition and become distinguished on an international level.
The IAA’s have recognized technical skill and design excellence in projects across the industry that incorporate specialty fabrics into their design. Entries are judged by industry experts and design professionals who are individually selected for their expertise in a particular field of study or product area. All projects entered are automatically listed in the IAA online gallery which is promoted year-round. Grow your brand, showcase your talent, and get the recognition you deserve! To view the IAA website, click here.
