Onyx Solar Completes the Largest PV Skylight in the World for Novartis

Spanish company Onyx Solar, through its US subsidiary, has completed the installation of the largest PV skylight in the world, a PV double skylight sizing 27,500 sqf which was executed for the new Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation´s headquarters in New Jersey, United States.  

The skylight will allow the firm generate free and clean electricity from the sun, equivalent to the lighting of more than 600 houses, at the same time that it provides the building with cutting edge technology that will turn it into an international reference for innovation, efficiency and sustainability.

The PV skylight is comprised of 820 units of PV glass modules in large format and they incorporate photovoltaic crystalline perforated solar cells which made the manufacturing process more complex due to the higher fragility of the cells; on the other hand, such solar cells allow a more homogeneous natural light transmission through the building, enhancing its interior lighting which is key for any office space.

The execution of the project was especially demanding due to the complexity of the skylight system which had to be movable (open and close) for maintenance purposes.

In this way, general contractor Turner Construction entrusted the entire project to Onyx Solar under a turnkey solution contract, which was executed successfully, reaching the highest quality standards that delighted the owner.