Mergence of Tension Membrane  

& Organic Photovoltaic 

Diego Villamizar Principal SKYShades of Southern California

SKYShades specializes in the design, engineering and installa>on of high‐quality tension membrane fabric structures 

We also offer exclusive SOLAR ROOFING FABRICS through our Integrated Building Organic Photovoltaic (OPV) Systems 

About SKYShades 

Applica>ons 

•  Art/Sculptures •  Amphitheaters •  Grandstands •  Stadiums •  Icon Buildings •  Arcades 

•  Retail Centers •  Malls/Walkways •  Resorts •  Car‐Parks •  Playgrounds •  Swimming Pools 

Overview 

•  Basics 

•  Applica>ons 

•  Fabrics 

•  Project Photos 

•  Solar Ini>a>ves 

US Tensile Beginnings PTFE Fiberglass and NASA (1969) 

First commercial projects (1972)  Lightweight long‐span roofs (1975) 

Basics 

Conven&onal structures: 

– Dependent on gravity and rigidity – Walls and framing working in compression 

Tensile structures: 

– An>‐clas>c (bi‐axial) forms – Membrane and cables working in tension 

Thus, the fi5h building material: 

– Wood, stone, metal, glass, and . . . membrane 

Sustainability 

•  Light colored fabrics •  Small amounts of material 

•  Dayligh>ng •  Fabric recycling  •  Steel is recycled •  New solar applica>ons 

Which Fabric Type? 

•  HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) •  PVC  •  PVDF (Polyvinylidenefluoride) •  PVF (Polyvinylfluoride) Teflon Film 

•  PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene)  •  ETFE (Ethylenetetrafluoroethylene) •  Gore Fabrics 

PVC Membrane: Composi>on 

PTFE Membrane: Composi>on 

Fabric Characteris>cs FABRIC TYPE HDPE PVC PTFE Durability/Lifespan Medium Medium High/Long Structural Capabilities Medium High High Initial Cost Low Medium High Performance Medium Medium High Waterproof No Yes Yes Translucency Low Medium High Fabric Flexibility High Medium Low Portability High Medium Low Color Availability High Medium Low Potential Creep No No No Fire Performance Pass NFPA 701 Pass ASTM E84, E108, E136

Limited Limited

Yes No

Yes Yes

Wolf Creek 

HDR Roof Top 

Amhurst Park 

All Saints 

Dreamworld 

Waterpark 

Waterpark 

Lake Eola 

Lunch Area 

Firesta>on 91 

Images Car Wash  

Filtronics Technology 

Eureka Museum, Australia 52m high cable stayed 

mast structure 

Movenpick Dead Sea Resort Fabric structures over entrance & hydropool 

PTFE/Glass fabric (220 m2 – 2,368sqh) 

Pines School 

1,100 m² 11,840sqft PVC

Thowal Prince Palace Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Rap>s Plaza Brisbane, Australia 

Atrium shade sails to reduce solar and heat glare in existing glazed atriums

Ripley Light Yacht Club 

Ripley Light Yacht Club 

10.000 m² - Silicon/Glass fabric

Alexandra Palace

Brisbane “The Gabba” 

Sea World Australia 

Munich Airport Centre, Germany 

7 membrane fields together 

with steel & glass sec>ons 

7,875 m² ‐ 81,536 sqh PTFE coated Fibreglass fabric 

Prienavera Leisure Pool  Prien, Germany 

1,980 m² ‐ 21,312sqh double‐ layered ETFE Foil 

Prienavera Leisure Pool  Prien, Germany 

Munich Zoo, Munich, Germany 

Organic Photovoltaic Panels 

OPV Applications

SKYShades Solarbrella

Solarbrella Specifications General: •  13’ x 13’ coverage •  Standard color is white / addi>onal colors available 

•  3 year warranty •  PVC fabric •  Aluminum body/pole •  4 power outlets (DC) with volt meter 

•  Power Plas>c organic photovoltaic panels 

•  Bapery bank in base of unit 

OPV Car Port

OPV Car Port Structures

UCSD Canyon View Pool

Benefits of 3rd genera>on  Solar Technology (OPV)  

Versus 

Tradi>onal Solar Panels 

• Requires a huge amount of energy input

• Toxic gases and hazardous chemicals such as arsenic, cadmium, and titanium

• Larger carbon footprint; high disposal costs

Environmentally 

• Panels use the lowest carbon footprint of all solar panels and they are biodegradable

• Pose no threat to the environment

Traditional PV (OPV)

•  Expensive due to the high production costs and the high price of silicon.

•  Extremely heavy

•  Roofing systems require reinforcing to carry the extra load

Economically

•  Roll-to-roll manufacturing process

•  Much lighter

•  Eliminates extra load requirements

Traditional PV (OPV)

•  Can never be more efficient than the first day of installation

•  Degrade at the rate of 1% (approx.) per year

Efficiency 

•  OPV panels bonded to membrane

•  Simple replacement when energy demands increase

•  May be used effectively indoors and outdoors

Traditional PV (OPV)

FAQs 

How efficient are OPV panels? 

  Currently, OPV panels have ~7% efficiency, with the theore>cal limit in the region of 50‐60% 

  Since OPV panels generate energy from any light, they generate electricity from daybreak to sunset 

  Conven>onal PV is most effec>ve only from 10am‐3pm and with no cloud cover 

FAQs What is the project life-span of the ‘bonding system’ which houses the Power Plastic?

  High-grade ETFE membrane

  Carries a 15-year warranty

What is the current useful life for Power Plastic?

  The current life of our panels is 3 to 5 years

  Over the past 3 years, no degradation identified

FAQs What are the compara>ve costs between conven>onal PV and Power Plas>c? 

  OPV u>lizes only dyes & chemicals on a plas>c plauorm (vs. high cost tradi>onal PV) 

  OPV prin>ng press manufacturing process is simpler and more cost effec>ve 

  Conven>onal panels repaid over 15‐17 years (based on local electricity costs) 

  Power Plas>c expected to have 4‐5 year payback period