Technology Assessment Division

Photovoltaic Roofing Shingles Project

Grant funding for this project was provided by the Department of Natural Resources / Technology Assessment Division to the Mechanical Engineering Department of Tulane University. The purpose of the project was to demonstrate that photovoltaic (PV) roofing shingles can be utilized in south Louisiana to provide or supplement the power for residential or commercial use. The project included the installation of 112 thin-film PV shingles measuring 12 inches wide by seven (7) feet long onto the roof a small commercial, office-type building. The 12-volt solar power was fed to the controls and into a battery storage system. From the batteries, the power was converted to 120 volts and utilized within the building. No connection was made to the public electric grid.

During hurricane Katrina, the building was flooded with approximately four (4) feet of water which ruined the control system and batteries. The PV shingles survived the storm.

Installed PV Shingles

Breaker Panel

Wiring From PV Shingles

Control Room

Batteries

PV Control System