SKYVOLUTION Energy GmbH produces smart pool enclosures with seamlessly integrated PV modules and energy chains from igus

Anyone with a swimming pool in their garden will, in future, be able to use it not only for swimming in the summer, but also to generate electricity. The Austrian company SKYVOLUTION Energy GmbH has developed a retractable pool enclosure with integrated photovoltaic modules for this purpose. The system combines protection, design and sustainable energy generation in one solution. However, integrating the solar panels presented its challenges: the cables had to be guided through the moving structure in a very confined space and in an environment exposed to moisture and chlorine vapours. igus provided the ideal solution with compact and robust energy chains, including a version specially customised for this application.

SKYVOLUTION’s smart pool enclosure combines innovation and sustainability: when guests are swimming in the pool before a barbecue, the individual segments are stacked on top of one another at the edge of the pool. If desired, the largest roof panel generates electricity even when the system is retracted. When users want to exploit the system’s full potential, one person pulls the segments across the basin. They extend like a telescope, moving along a particularly flat, single-sided linear guide. The roof cladding, which is made of laminated safety glass, contains monocrystalline half-cells that generate electricity – up to 8,400kWh per year, depending on configuration and location. The design lets plenty of daylight into the pool, so that reflected sunlight can be used to generate electricity as well. At the same time, the enclosure reduces evaporation and heat loss from the pool.

From the outside, however, as little as possible of the impressive technology should be visible. That is precisely what presented founder Roland Altenberger with a challenge: the electrical infrastructure is fully integrated into the design. Each element of the enclosure has its own control cabinet, with which the cables from the PV modules are directly connected. Regarding cable guidance, SKYVOLUTION opted for igus energy chains made from high-performance plastic, which were developed specifically for this application. This allows the cable harness to be guided safely and almost invisibly from component to component. In the largest roof panel, an igus energy chain from the E4.31L series provides the shielded connection to the ground. From there, an empty conduit leads to the inverter. As a result, the technical complexity remains virtually invisible to the observer, and there are no trade-offs regarding functionality or reliability.

Energy chains are resistant to humidity and chlorine

The components inside the PV cover are constantly exposed to air containing chlorine. The problem is that chlorine is significantly more corrosive than ordinary moisture. It is deposited on surfaces along with water vapour, which can lead to corrosion of metal components. Conventional plastic components, in contrast, show signs of embrittlement, microcracks and a loss of impact resistance. Added to this are significant temperature fluctuations between day and night, which place an additional strain on the material. “igus energy chains reliably withstand these conditions,” says Altenberger. “The material is so durable that the cable guide system in the pool enclosure can operate without failure or maintenance for many years. This is a clear advantage for us and our customers, and reflects our high standards in terms of quality and durability.”

Custom-made design compensates for limited installation space

The installation space required for the telescopic pool enclosure is surprisingly small. “As the individual components slide into one another, there is very little space available for the flexible cables,” confirms Altenberger. “Off-the-shelf solutions were unable to meet the requirements concerning build chamber and manoeuvrability.” In close cooperation with igus, SKYVOLUTION has therefore developed a specially tailored solution based on the 1400 energy chain series, which safely guides the solar cables through the moving parts and into the control cabinet, even in the tightest of spaces. The 1400 series is characterised by its easy and versatile assembly, high stability combined with quiet operation as well as a long service life and a wide range of mounting options. The use of tribologically optimised high-performance plastics makes igus energy chains particularly robust and wear-resistant. “igus is committed to ensuring that technology does not stand in the way of design engineers’ creativity. This flexibility was crucial to the project’s implementation. The result is a fail-safe solution that combines protection, sustainable energy generation and attractive design in one system,” said Altenberger.

You can find more information about the PV pool canopy and other SKYVOLUTION solutions, such as PV carports and PV patio covers, here: https://www.skyvolution.at

You can find more information about igus energy chains here: https://www.igus.eu/energy-chain