The essential considerations for any new solar technology are: Can it be successfully commercialized? Is it cost effective? And, does it have widespread applicability? In this context, the focus of this paper is to present the commercial successes that have occurred in the area of PV/Thermal systems. Two years ago the concept and technology behind the hybrid heat + electric system was presented at ASES by John Hollick, inventor of the SolarWall? PV/Thermal technology. This paper focuses on two large scale and high profile PV/ Thermal installations that have both been completed in 2008 at the Beijing Olympics and the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University in Montreal. The PV/Thermal system in the Beijing Olympic Village was publicized around the world because of its innovative nature. It was a roof-mounted system, and was sized for 10 kW of PV and 20 kW of SolarWall? air heating, thereby producing 200% more usable energy than a conventional PV system. The hybrid system was specified by the Olympic Park Developer - amidst a variety of other solar options - because of its technological viability. The John Molson School of Business at Concordia University in Montreal is a LEED? registered building and includes a Building Integrated Photovoltaic / Thermal (BIPV/T) System which is a first of its kind anywhere in the world. The system is wall mounted and is expected to have an overall efficiency of 60%. It includes 25 kW of PV and 75 kW of thermal solar air heating. The paper will also cover the design considerations associated with these PV/Thermal systems and offer recommendations for future projects.
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