British solar heat and power scale-up Naked Energy has had its VirtuPVT technology certified by TÜV Rheinland. It is the first evacuated hybrid solar collector to receive TÜV certification.
TÜV Rheinland is one of the leading organisations in the world for testing and certification across a very wide range of industries including aviation, infrastructure and renewable energy technologies, and has over 35 years of experience in the solar industry alone.
Its testing process put VirtuPVT under extensive pressure and found that it can withstand internal temperature ranges from -40°C and 240°C, while enduring extreme weather conditions such as hailstorms, frost, heavy rain and even fire, and still perform to the highest standards.
VirtuPVT provides up to four times more carbon savings, is three times more efficient than traditional PV panels and is already being used across the UK on iconic buildings such as The British Library and one of the UK’s first energy positive office building, the Active Office in Swansea.
VirtuPVT combines solar photovoltaics (PV) and solar thermal technology, generating both electricity and heat from a single solar collector.
Each VirtuPVT tube is angled towards the sun. To maximise summer outputs an integrated reflector increases peak performance by as much as 40%, and average annual yields by 15%. The vacuum inside the tube reduces heat losses, enabling VirtuPVT to deliver higher temperature outputs up to 75°C for hot water and process heat even in colder climates. The vacuum within the tubes also protects the PV cells from humidity.
Naked Energy is celebrating the certification by releasing a brand film demonstrating the Virtu product range and the extensive TÜV testing process. The film is shot exclusively on iPhone and GoPro cameras, highlighting Virtu’s robustness and slick design.
The TÜV certification comes on the back of a successful year for Naked Energy. The company announced a partnership with ELM Solar to manufacture the technology in the United States earlier this year.
It also secured £17m in the first close of its Series B funding, led by E.ON Energy Infrastructure Solutions and Barclays. This funding allows Naked Energy to expand and offer its technology to more businesses in the commercial and industrial space across the globe.
Christophe Williams, CEO of Naked Energy, said, “TÜV certification goes a long way in assuring the industry that this tech is of the highest quality, which will provide a further incentive for businesses in the commercial and industrial sectors to decarbonise their heat demand.”