During 2020, we worked together with TNO and Emergo in the Netherlands to develop an innovative facade system for a sports hall in the city of Almere.

The venue is covered in colorful solar collectors that capture the thermal energy buildings would normally absorb. It’s then used to heat and cool the structure.

One of the big challenges was how to avoid having to use black panels – not always aesthetically pleasing for a building exterior, even if darker colors do absorb heat better.

That’s where our expertise came in. We’ve developed technology which can capture heat using the sort of lighter and brighter colors that traditionally reflect near-infrared light (NIR makes up 50% of the total solar energy).

“It’s a practical and sustainable solution for making buildings energy positive,” explains senior AkzoNobel scientist Anthonie Stuiver. “It means we can harness sustainable energy via a system that looks good, as well as doing good.”

The collaboration came about as a result of AkzoNobel’s involvement in the European ENVISION research project, which is made up of 13 partners.