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How a Dutch water research campus turned its skylight into a solar generator
When daylight and energy generation compete
A light-filled atrium for a sustainability campus
Over 300 organisations collaborate at Watercampus on cutting-edge water technology research. When the facility needed expansion, GEAR Architecten’s vision centred on an open, daylit atrium — the social and spatial heart of a facility dedicated to innovation in water technology and the circular economy. For a campus at the forefront of sustainable research, the building itself needed to demonstrate environmental leadership.
Visible sustainability without compromising daylight
The atrium roof offered prime real estate for solar generation, but conventional PV panels would have created a dark, enclosed space — contradicting the openness and transparency the architect envisioned. BREEAM-NL Excellent certification demanded demonstrable renewable energy integration. Mounting panels elsewhere on the limited roof area wouldn’t deliver the visible sustainability statement the campus identity required.
Why it fits: ISSOL® Square technology embeds high-performance PERC monocrystalline cells into semi-transparent glazing, allowing the skylight to simultaneously admit daylight and generate electricity. The uniform square cell grid harmonises with the architecture’s flowing geometry and wood-accented interior — turning a necessary building element into an active power producer visible to all campus visitors.
Engineering light and power
| Parameter | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Application | Semi-transparent skylight | Central atrium overhead glazing |
| ISSOL® solution | ISSOL® Square | Square cell grid; transparency adjustable |
| Active skylight area | ±110 m² | BIPV-integrated atrium roof surface |
| Skylight capacity | ±9.9 kWp | Full atrium skylight system |
| Power density | ~90 Wp/m² | Based on total skylight surface area |
| Transparency | 30–50% | Calibrated for daylight quality + generation |
| Annual yield | ~8,000–9,000 kWh/yr | Northern European climate; ~800–900 kWh/kWp |
| Glass build-up | Laminated Extra Clear / Clear + EVA | DGU; overhead glazing specification |
| Cell technology | PERC monocrystalline (G1/M10) | Square cell grid; architectural consistency |
| Integration | Ventilated cavity | Thermal management; prevents heat build-up |
| Certifications | IEC 61215/61730 · EN 356 P1A · EN 12600 1B1 | PV durability + security + impact safety |
| Building cert. | BREEAM-NL Excellent | Renewable energy integration contributed |
“The integrated approach eliminated separate shading devices whilst achieving the renewable generation required for BREEAM excellence. For Watercampus, intangible benefits proved decisive: landmark architecture that embodies the campus mission.”
Project Insight — Integration coordination
From design intent to realised skylight
Daylight quality analysis — workspace comfort documentationAvailable on request →
