PV Master Class for students – future architects

On February 20, 2018, the architectural Department at Kiev National University of Civil Engineering and Architecture hosted a master class delivered by Dr. Stephen Wittkopf, an architect, professor at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Switzerland (HSLU).

The master class was initiated and organized by the Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production Centre within the framework of UNIDO Project.

The first master class session presented a PV review, namely, PV modules types, technologies; technical parameters like temperature mode or spectral sensitivity; PV research. The participants got to know about EU and Switzerland main goals in PV development, PV cost analysis and payback period methodologies, full life cycle costs.

The second session dubbed ‘Innovations’ provided information on included information on various PV panels integrations into architecture, typical PV module layers to construct integrated glass, PV axes and encapsulation etc. The speaker shared his knowledge about Swiss approaches to install colored PV panels.

The third session deeply studied specific PV projects, one of them – erecting a building with colored panels ‘Switzerland’ fixed on the facade. This façade actually looks like a mosaic of Swiss cantons flags.

The closing session turned into an open discussion between all the participants and the speaker. ‘The meeting with Ukrainian students was very inspiring and has really charged me with energy to go on with my research’, – Dr. Wittkopf shared his true emotions after closing remarks.