Features | October 1, 2024 | By: Debra Cobb

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the amount of renewable capacity added to energy systems around the world grew by 50% in 2023, reaching almost 510 gigawatts (GW), with solar/photovoltaic accounting for three-quarters of additions worldwide.

The IEA forecasts that U.S. solar power generation will grow 75% from 163 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) in 2023 to 286 billion kWh in 2025. The agency also expects wind power generation to grow 11% from 430 billion kWh in 2023 to 476 billion kWh in 2025. Hydrogen power and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) are also poised for growth.

The economic opportunities the generation of alternative energy provides—requiring new facilities, new materials and a wide range of feedstocks—could likewise fuel the growth of innovative technical textiles. Seen and unseen, these critical components include unique polymers, composites, membranes and filters as well as performance textiles for wind and solar that are lighter, stronger and often recyclable.

From solar cells to solar fabric

Recent developments in lightweight, super-thin, flexible photovoltaics have enabled the solarization of fabrics, expanding the potential range of energy-producing form factors. Brooklyn, N.Y.-based company Pvilion laminates its solar cells to various textiles to create a range of canopies, tents, curtains, building facades, backpacks and clothing. “Once you have the panel, you can turn it into anything,” says Colin Touhey, company co-founder and CEO.

Pvilion’s advantage is in its systems that provide both shelter and power in one structure to partners such as Carnegie Hall, Bloomberg, Tishman Speyer, New York City, Yale University, the U.S. Air Force, the Florida Department of Transportation and the city of Miami.

“Solar fabrics are getting better and better,” Touhey says. He explains that the company is agnostic regarding substrates, focusing instead on durability and longevity. Pvilion creates solar fabrics from ripstop nylon, PVC-coated polyester, polytetrafluoroethylene-coated fiberglass, Dyneema®, and sometimes stretch substrates.

“We are more and more trying to build a line of finished products, as mass production is the goal for price,” says Touhey. “But we are happy to work with people who have a small volume. Being a solar power company doesn’t mean anything if it doesn’t fit into the customer’s requirements.”

From sails to wind turbines

Scottish startup ACT Blade is working with an innovative fabric and specialized modular manufacturing system for turbine blades. The new blades are longer without increased weight and comprise fewer materials and simpler, streamlined production methods. They feature a slender supporting structure made from a composite material that the technical textile completely covers.

Concordia Textiles Group, based in Waregem, Belgium, manufactures the protective outer shell for the wind turbine blades. The fabric is reparable and is composed of elements that can be easily separated for recycling at end of life.

“We developed a laminate that is the common denominator of more than 20 technical requirements by combining the strength and elasticity of a fabric with a protective layer,” says Rik Gekiere, Concordia’s sales and product manager. “Rain-erosion resistance and durability over time were the most challenging to achieve.”

Enel Green Power, an Italian multinational renewable-energy corporation, is partnering with ACT Blade to develop the project. A wind technology called OceanWings®, patented by VPLP Design in France, is said to enable a 45% savings in fuel consumption and a subsequent reduction in carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) emissions for sailing vessels. The vertical windsails provide aerodynamic lift and feature automated positioning to maximize thrust.

OceanWings are made from eco-composites that include linen fiber and recycled thermoplastic resins. The outer bag is 1,000-denier nylon with a layer of urethane to protect against punctures and abrasion.

The sails were first trialed in 2019 on the Energy Observer, an experimental vessel designed to test alternative energy sources in maritime conditions. In 2022, a commercial wind-powered cargo ship, the Canopeé, launched with four OceanWings that reduce
fuel consumption by up to 42% in good weather conditions.

Green hydrogen: Fuel of the future?

The World Economic Forum defines green hydrogen as hydrogen produced through electrolysis, using renewable electricity from solar or wind to split water into two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. Green hydrogen can be used to decarbonize transportation, including heavy trucks, aviation and shipping, as well as in the manufacturing of steel, cement and other hard-to-abate industries.

At the heart of the green hydrogen process are proton exchange membranes, or PEMs. These membranes play a vital role in hydrogen production, fuel cells and flow batteries for energy storage. The company Chemours™, based in Wilmington, Del., dominates this market with its Nafion™ brand portfolio of membranes, dispersions and resins.

Nafion is a synthetic polymer with unique ionic properties, created by incorporating perfluorovinyl ether groups terminated with sulfonate groups onto a PTFE backbone. The resulting product is a thermoplastic that can be extruded or solution-cast into films for composite membranes.

In response to a request for information, Nafion portfolio’s product manager referred to a paper published by Chemours’ technical team: “Advancements in Thin, Reinforced Proton Exchange Membranes for Water Electrolysis” by Ryan Gebhardt and others.

“Employing a thinner and mechanically supported membrane can enhance both the electrochemical performance and mechanical properties. With the demand for cheaper hydrogen, these new membrane designs are needed to achieve advanced performance metrics,” the paper states.

While the green hydrogen economy is still in its infancy, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced $750 million, funded by the 2022 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, for 52 projects across 24 states to reduce the cost of clean hydrogen. According to the DOE, clean hydrogen is set to play a vital role in reducing emissions from the most energy-intensive and polluting sectors of the economy.

For example, Airbus is testing the use of hydrogen fuel cells to generate electricity to power aircraft that fly with almost zero emissions. Airbus’ ZEROe project hopes to bring the world’s first hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft to market by 2035. Flight testing of the fuel-cell propulsion system on an Airbus 380 is scheduled for 2026.

Decarbonizing aviation with sustainable aviation fuel

The airline industry uses about 20 billion gallons of jet fuel every year, and globally, aviation accounts for 2% of all CO₂e and 12% of CO₂e from transportation, according to the DOE. Sustainable aviation fuel reduces emissions from air transportation, and when blended with conventional aviation fuel, is compatible with today’s aircraft and infrastructure. Depending on the feedstock and blend, SAF can reduce aviation’s CO₂e by up to 80%.

There are several pathways to making SAF, based on various feedstocks. These include sustainably sourced renewable waste such as cooking oil and animal fat; biomass such as agricultural and forest wastes and solid municipal wastes; and power-to-liquid SAF made from captured CO₂.

“Sustainable Energy Generation From Textile Biowaste and Its Challenges,” a paper published in 2022 by Shahjalal Khandaker, Ph.D., and others reports that waste from the textile industry could also be a significant source of biomass for fuel.

LanzaJet, a sustainable-fuels technology company spun out of LanzaTech in 2020, converts ethanol to SAF from any source of low-carbon ethanol, including biomass, industrial waste, municipal solid waste and CO₂. The company’s recently opened Freedom Pines facility in Soperton, Ga., supported by the DOE’s Bioenergy Technology Office, will produce 9 million gallons of SAF and 1 million gallons of renewable diesel in its first year of operation.

LanzaJet and Tadweer (Abu Dhabi Waste Management Company) are cooperating on a feasibility study to initiate SAF production from municipal and commercial solid waste. The hope is that up to 350,000 metric tons (385,809 U.S. tons) of hard-to-recycle municipal and commercial solid waste can be transformed into 200,000 metric tons (220,462 U.S. tons) of ethanol per year.

Renewable energy is a growth industry, accounting for 90% of all new electricity installed worldwide each year. While it’s the early days, there are opportunities for the textile industry to be involved.

A battery in a balloon

A company called Energy Dome, based in Milan, Italy, has developed a thermodynamic method of long-duration energy storage in a “battery” that uses CO₂ stored in a huge fabric dome, like a balloon, made of PVC-coated polyester. Energy from a local grid or nearby solar farm compresses the CO₂ into a liquid during the day. At night, the liquid CO₂ expands back into gas, driving a turbine that produces electricity and sends it back to the grid.

Energy Dome has its first U.S. installation planned for 2026 in Columbia County, Wisc., with Alliant Energy, and it has recently opened an office in Boston with a “growing ambition to decarbonize the world with our CO₂ Battery™ technology.” 

Debra Cobb is a freelance writer with expertise in the textiles industry. She is based in North Carolina.

To view the original article from Fabric Architecture Magazine, click here.

September 6, 2024

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About the Episode

The amount of electricity generated by solar panels has surged over the last decade. But while rooftop solar panels are more common than ever, the balance of solar-power generation has shifted from power systems on individual homes to large-scale commercial arrays used by utilities. WSJ’s Danny Lewis sits down with energy and climate reporter Phred Dvorak and Pvilion CEO Colin Touhey to talk about the future of home solar, and the new role it might play in the power grid.

WSJ’s The Future of Everything

What will the future look like? The Future of Everything offers a view of the nascent trends that will shape our world. In every episode, join our award-winning team on a new journey of discovery. We’ll take you beyond what’s already out there, and make you smarter about the scientific and technological breakthroughs on the horizon that could transform our lives for the better.

To view this podcast on on the WSJ Podcast website, click here.

August 2024

QUAD POLE SOLAR SAIL

Brooklyn-based Pvilion integrates solar cells into patented PVC-coated polyester fabric, allowing the fabric to generate electricity. The large-scale Quad Pole Solar Sail offers both shade and power for large spaces, providing lightweight, low-energy-output shelter. It offers temporary, semipermanent, or permanent installation options. The solar fabric produces clean energy, powering devices via integrated outlets, and is supported by a powder-coated steel frame.

Source: https://landscapearchitecturemagazine.org/.

August 5, 2024

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Watch on YouTube:

About This Episode

To kick off Season 2 of CleanTalk, Director-Producer Luke Harmer joins Colin Touhey, CEO and founder of Pvilion, for a discussion all about the integration of solar PV cells into fabrics. With a background in electrical engineering in the tent design space, Colin enlightens CleanTalk on how starting out in-house for another organization provided opportunities to get a new commercial offering off the ground with a wealth of resources at his fingertips.

CleanTalk is produced by Harmer Visuals, a corporate film production company specialising in data-driven storytelling for companies across renewable energy value chains. To find out more about how we can help you, visit: www.harmervisuals.com.

To view this podcast on YouTube, click here.

Why film sets are making the shift away from loud, polluting generators.

Pvilion Blog |  June 24, 2024 | By Julia Fowler

From cameras to craft services and sets to studio lights, it’s no question that the entertainment industry is a massive source of global pollution. As more production companies become increasingly aware of the harmful environmental effects of their productions, many companies are beginning to take measures to reduce their impact. Thanks to several mainstream publications shining light on the harm caused, more effective action is beginning to take place than ever before.

To name a few, Disney, Netflix, and RMI have recently made public commitments to specific sustainable goals, including replacing diesel generators with clean mobile power solutions. In fact, the need is so great that there are now agencies dedicated to improving sustainability efforts on film sets. Companies like EcoSet and Earth Angel are hired by production companies to introduce strategies and solutions to reduce their carbon footprint.

While waste reduction and recycling are beneficial, the greatest offender on sets are the emissions released from fuel used for power. The generators used to power sets are releasing millions of metric tons of C02 every year. As a result, experts are suggesting eliminating the need for generators as much as possible.

Recently TIME shared an article,  Film and TV’s Carbon Footprint Is Too Big to Ignore, that takes a closer look at the impact of the entertainment industry’s carbon footprint. “Every year, the global entertainment industry generates millions of metric tons of CO2. Depending on the size of the production, movies can emit on average between 391 metric tons for a small film and up to 3,370 metric tons of CO2 equivalents for large, tentpole productions such as Oppenheimer or Barbie—that’s the equivalent of powering 656 homes for a year,” according to the article.

Not only are these emissions incredibly harmful to the environment, they are harmful for the crew working around them. A  2019 study conducted by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation’s Global Burden of Disease found that air pollution was the third highest ranking risk factor of diseases that resulted in death globally. Other studies – like those by Energy Report – have found that the average diesel generator emits fumes that contain over 40 toxic air pollutants, most of which are carcinogenic. Dangerous fumes are only part of the risk associated with working around generators; they are also a major source of noise pollution. Most generators emit anywhere from 85 to 105 decibels and are a common cause of hearing loss for those that spend time around them.

This is why experts recommend shifting to more sustainable options, like batteries. Batteries can be used in conjunction with solar systems. Solar powered batteries are an optimal source of clean energy, flexibility, and can provide power independent from the grid. Not only this, but thanks to the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act, solar powered battery systems qualify for a 30% tax credit.

How Can Pvilion Help?

From lighting, to makeup trailers, catering, and everything in between, the demand for reliable off-grid power on a production set is high. Pvilion works with production companies to provide battery kit solutions that exceed the expectations of a traditional generator. Pvilion battery kits are: 

1. Completely silent. None of the loud and excessive noises associated with diesel generators.
2. Eco-friendly. The systems release zero-emissions.
3. User Friendly. Batteries are designed to be easily used by anyone, without the need of an expert.
4. Modular. They can be scaled up or down to meet power needs.
5. Easy to stack and move. They are integrated with durable Pelican cases.
6. Solar-ready. They can be used as-is or can connect to a solar source. Solar allows for sustainably sourced power without needing to re-fuel or connect to the grid. (Perfect when paired with a Pvilion Solar-Powered Fabric Shelter, which could qualify them for a 30% incentive tax credit.

Interested in using a Pvilion battery on your next production? Pvilion offers battery rental kits for purchase with or without a complete solar fabric system. For businesses located in New York City, Pvilion offers a battery rental program – with the option for daily on-site delivery. Rentals can be scaled to meet power need and can be rented on a short-term or long-term basis. Want to learn more? Get in touch with our battery rental team for more information.

Projects | February 1, 2024 | By: ATA

Visitors to the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx looking for a brief respite to refuel and recharge have been doing so for the past few years under canopies that now can be called award-winning. Last fall Pvilion received recognition in the BLT Built Design Awards in one of the Landscape Architecture categories for this project. Strategically located near the botanical garden’s food truck area, the eight shade canopies have solar cells integrated into the fabric.

The New York Botanical Garden was the launch site for the company’s solar-powered canopy structures. The lightweight, turnkey canopies are fire-retardant, UV-resistant, sturdy and aesthetically pleasing—the latter of which was important to the client. Their installation was part of a pilot project funded by the Innovative Demonstrations for Energy Adaptability (IDEA) Program, an initiative of New York City’s Division of Energy Management that engaged vendors testing new or underused energy technologies. As a part of the city’s carbon emission reduction efforts, seven of the canopies contribute energy directly to the city’s power grid.

“It’s only fitting that the New York Botanical Garden, a place known for its greenery, will be leading the way with green energy technologies,” said Lisette Camilo, commissioner of the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services, at the time of the canopies’ installation.

The testing and demonstration time period for the canopies spanned July 2020 to December 2021. The study recorded results and listed notes for installation best practices. Because of this pilot, the canopies are popping up in other areas of the city as well, the company says, such as public library locations.

The BLT Built Design Awards program has four annual honors in landscape, architectural and interior design, and construction segments. The landscape awards in particular honor exceptional design that’s resilient, forward thinking and ecologically sensitive. “The award recognizes planning, design, management and nurturing of the built and natural environments,” the awards website notes. Open to entrants around the world and projects from the previous five years, the BLT Built Design awards are part of Three C Group GmbH, a Swiss company. 

To read the original article, click here.

Pvilion Blog |  February 23, 2024 | By Julia Fowler

In any emergency, two of the most essential tools are shelter and power. Without first meeting the need for shelter and power during times of crisis, individuals are left vulnerable, and emergency responders cannot treat the community as safely until they are in place.

Types of Disaster

Disaster can strike anywhere at any time. This map from the American Red Cross demonstrates where different types of natural disasters are likely to occur in the US.

There are a variety of situations that constitute a state of emergency, including the following:

• Natural disasters like earthquakes, wildfires, hurricanes, extreme temperatures, tornadoes, wildfires, and floods
• Public health crises
• Man-made conflicts such as war

When a state of emergency or other similar event takes place, the appropriate emergency management teams will take action in the affected communities. Response actions are typically organized by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Need for Shelter

When disaster strikes, shelters serve many purposes. It is one of our most basic requirements for survival – according to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, shelter falls under the most essential human need, physiological needs. Temporary shelter is also one of the core clusters recognized by the United Nations for greater coordination in humanitarian crises.

Not only does shelter offer us a place of refuge, but also space for privacy, dignity, security, treatment, and recovery. Temporary shelter rapidly provides this space during the response phase of an emergency and helps allow for a smooth transition to recovery following disaster.

Shelter Application in an Emergency

• Resiliency hubs
• Medical facilities
• Temporary housing
• Storage & distribution centers
• Communication/command centers

Need for Essential Power

Power is essential for access to medical equipment, heating and cooling systems, communication tools, lighting, water supply, and other critical devices. In situations where affected areas are left with disruptions to the local power grid, the need for power can become dire.

The Power of Solar

When considering off-grid power systems, solar offers several advantages. Some of the key benefits of utilizing solar in emergencies include:

• Sustainable power. Solar is a renewable resource that harvests the sun’s energy and stores it in batteries that don’t release harmful emissions.
• No need for fuel resupply. Since solar power is continuously derived from photovoltaic panels, there is no need to source battery systems with fuel.
• Dependability. During times of crisis, it is important to have a system you can rely on to provide power for essential activities.
• User friendly. Solar power systems are very user friendly and require little maintenance.
• Silent. The batteries used in solar power systems are completely silent, unlike the loud and ear damaging roar of a diesel generator.

How Can Pvilion Help?

Pvilion’s Solar Power Integrated Structures (SPIS) integrate solar power into shelters that are designed to meet the specific needs of emergency response. The features of Pvilion’s SPIS include:

It’s important to be prepared for unexpected situations and emergencies. Our focus at Pvilion is to make clean energy and shelter available in any setting, at any time. Pvilion’s Solar Powered Integrated Structures are designed to be durable and easy to use. That way, when the unexpected occurs, communities have easy access to safe and reliable shelter and power as quickly as possible.

30% Incentive Tax Credit

All Pvilion Solar Powered Integrated Structures also qualify for a 30 percent tax credit thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act. Under this act, nonprofits, government agencies, and other tax-exempt entities can still benefit through the elective pay provision. This means purchasers can receive 30 percent of the entire system’s value back, thanks to its solar integration.

To learn more about how the ITC works, click here.

Want to learn more about how Pvilion Solar Powered Integrated Structures can help with your resiliency needs? Get in touch with our solar shelter experts to learn more and receive a free quote.

January 15, 2024 | Hosted by Bonnie Schneider

Pvilion’s products range from stand-alone solar canopies, solar military tents, grid-tied long span structures, solar powered charging stations to solar powered curtains, building facades, backpacks and clothing. What they do is simple in theory – they integrate solar cells with fabric and build fabric products that generate electricity. Effectively, any surface that is getting hit by the sun, can be a fabric that generates electricity.

To watch the full video interview, click here.