As part of a research project, Arup developed a glass facade system with integrated photobioreactors; the so-called bioenergy facade.
This is a further development of Arup’s SolarLeaf façade, the world's first algae bioreactor façade, first presented in 2013. Microalgae are cultivated in glass facade elements that generate heat for the building operation and biomass for the food and pharmaceutical industries.
With the new bioenergy facade, Arup is further developing the SolarLeaf façade both aesthetically and technologically. Three different facade elements open new possibilities for architectural design: A translucent version, which allows the green of the algae to be experienced in the interior; an opaque solution, in which the algae serve as design elements on the outer façade; and a transparent frame, for undisturbed viewing.
Not only does the bioenergy façade offer aesthetic flexibility, with this new project SolarLeaf’s technology is optimised for sustainability. Each square-meter of bioenergy façade will yield 5.5kg of biomass (which can be used in the food and pharmaceutical industries) and absorb 10kg of CO2 per year, while converting 38% of the solar energy coming into the building into heat.