As guardians of human civilization and history, museums bear the sacred mission of preserving culture and inspiring the future. As the “dual carbon” goals drive global energy transformation, introducing green and sustainable photovoltaic Energy Storage Systems into museums is not only a technological upgrade but also a strategic choice that aligns closely with the core mission of museums. However, the application of this technology is more than a simple equipment installation; it requires a carefully planned systemic project. This article will delve into its significant advantages and key considerations for museum applications.
Have you heard that the Forbidden City is installing photovoltaics?
On August 6th, the bidding announcement for the photovoltaic construction project for the Palace Museum’s North Campus Project (Section 1) was released. The bidder was Shanghai Baoye Group Co., Ltd. The bidding announcement indicated a total installed capacity of 338.94kW, with an estimated contract price of 2.9297 million yuan, equivalent to a unit price of approximately 8.644 yuan per watt.
Many people’s initial reaction is probably like a box: Solar Panels are being installed on the glazed tiles of the Forbidden City? How outrageous!Don’t worry! A closer look at the bidding project name reveals that this Forbidden City isn’t the Forbidden City you’re looking for—this photovoltaic project is actually located in the North Campus of the Palace Museum.This new building, located in Xibeiwang Town, Haidian District, 30 kilometers from the Forbidden City, is no ordinary structure. It’s a major cultural facility under the National 14th Five-Year Plan and a top-tier museum with a total investment of 2.1 billion yuan.Flanked by water to the south and mountains to the north, the North Campus of the Forbidden City has a total construction area of 102,000 square meters and a land area of 115,500 square meters. The project includes rooms for displaying cultural relics, restoration, and offices and service facilities, creating a modern museum complex integrating collection, exhibition, restoration, research, and education.The display area alone reportedly includes 12 exhibition halls, totaling approximately 35,000 square meters. It’s expected to bring 20,000 to 30,000 cultural relics out of storage annually, a significant increase compared to the Palace Museum’s main exhibition area. This is truly a positive development! On September 19th, Beijing News reported that the main structure of the Palace Museum’s North Campus project has been fully completed, officially entering the interior decoration phase, with completion expected in May 2026, according to the Haidian Branch of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Planning and Natural Resources.
Also announced on the same day were the winning bidders for the photovoltaic project:
• First Winning Bidder: Tianjin Huajie Electric Power Engineering Co., Ltd., with a bid price of 24.5568164 million yuan, equivalent to a unit price of approximately 7.245 yuan/W;• Second Winning Bidder: Zhongzhen Construction Co., Ltd., with a bid price of 24.5500097 million yuan, equivalent to a unit price of approximately 7.243 yuan/W;• Third Winning Bidder: Shandong Taiyin Construction Co., Ltd., with a bid price of 24.7258032 million yuan, equivalent to a unit price of approximately 7.295 yuan/W. While not as exorbitant as the capped price of 8.644 yuan/W, this price, nearly three times the market price, is truly making waves in the photovoltaic industry, which has long been plagued by low prices. It’s truly enviable!
Returning to the price per watt of over 7 yuan, on second thought, this price is reasonable.
First, the North Campus of the Forbidden City is not an ordinary commercial project but a cultural landmark, one that will be passed down for centuries or even longer. It will undoubtedly house national treasures, placing stringent demands on environmental stability and safety.
Think about it: an ordinary factory Photovoltaic System might tolerate occasional troubleshooting, but can a museum do the same? Can it be closed to visitors just to maintain a photovoltaic system?
Clearly not. This requires every component to meet the highest reliability standards.
When we break down the unit price of 7.245 yuan/W, we discover that it likely contains a number of hidden costs.
As we know, the cost of a photovoltaic system is typically composed of components such as modules, inverters, support materials, wiring, design and commissioning. The high price tag is closely related to the North Campus project’s unique characteristics: safety standards take precedence over all else.What do museums fear most? Fire!This is why, unlike other projects, the bidding scope for the Forbidden City North Campus project explicitly requires “secondary detailed design” of the equipment. Construction includes high-standard operations such as fire-retardant topcoat-coated supporting steel structures and precision equipment commissioning.Fire-retardant topcoat and special coatings are inherently expensive, and the “fire-retardant topcoat” specifically mentioned in the bidding documents may even be just the tip of the iceberg. The entire photovoltaic system likely employs fire-resistant designs far beyond the norm, including specialized cables, connectors, and protective devices. These safety features drive up costs.Furthermore, museums have extremely high requirements for the preservation of cultural relics. Wiring and equipment layout must be strictly isolated, with noise and vibration reduction, requiring even higher-standard components and construction techniques.On the other hand, the modules may be unusual. While conventional modules are used for ordinary projects, the Forbidden City project is likely to use flexible photovoltaic modules or customized products. This is because these modules can better blend in with the architectural form and not detract from the aesthetics of the design. In terms of price rationality, the lowest winning bid for lightweight flexible modules in recent tenders reached 1.873 yuan/W, with an average price of around 2.016 yuan/W. While these flexible or BIPV modules are lightweight and aesthetically pleasing, their cost per watt is significantly higher than traditional modules.
If, as some reports suggest, the North Campus project uses glazed photovoltaic glass or antique-style photovoltaic tiles that blend in with the style of ancient architecture, the module price could be significantly higher.
On the other hand, the museum’s requirement for an absolutely quiet environment places stringent noise control requirements on inverters and other equipment. Natural cooling and fanless designs may become standard.
Of course, this would also increase installation difficulty, which translates to higher labor and structural costs.
Finally, given that this project is an EPC contract and only 338.94kW in capacity, its scale is relatively modest in the megawatt-scale photovoltaic market. This means that fixed management and financing costs account for a higher proportion of the per-watt cost, preventing economies of scale and naturally resulting in higher unit costs.
Key Considerations for Installing a PV Energy Storage System in a MuseumPrioritize cultural heritage preservation and eliminate potential risks:This is paramount in all considerations. First, absolutely ensure that there are no vibration or fire hazards during construction and operation. A rigorous structural assessment must be conducted before construction to ensure the building’s load-bearing capacity. All electrical equipment (such as inverters and cables) must meet the highest fire and explosion protection standards, and an intelligent fire protection system must be installed. Second, carefully assess the light reflection of the PV panels. Choose panels with low reflectivity or special treatments, and design the installation angle appropriately to avoid light pollution or discomfort to surrounding residents, traffic, or the building itself (such as light-sensitive facades).
Harmony between architectural aesthetics and historical features:Many museums are historical buildings or important landmarks, their exteriors possessing exceptional artistic and historical value. The installation of a PV system must not compromise their aesthetic integrity. The design must adhere to the principles of “invisibility and integration.” For modern buildings, “building material photovoltaic” (BIPV) panels that coordinate with the roof’s color and material can be used. For historic buildings or buildings with historical features, priority should be given to installing PV panels in inconspicuous locations such as ancillary buildings, parking lot roofs, or courtyards. If necessary, some power generation efficiency can be sacrificed to preserve the building’s appearance.
Professionalism in system design and equipment selection:Museums have unique load characteristics, and environmental control systems consume a high proportion of energy and require continuous stability. System design should be based on a detailed energy audit, accurately calculating the power load and rationally allocating photovoltaic and energy storage capacity. When selecting equipment, high-efficiency, stable, and low-noise products should be preferred. Energy storage batteries, in particular, should be selected from technologies with high safety and long lifespan (such as lithium iron phosphate batteries) and housed in a separate equipment room with adequate ventilation and fire protection.
Intelligent Operation and Maintenance and Long-Term Planning:Installation is only the beginning; long-term intelligent operation and maintenance is crucial. A smart energy management platform integrating real-time monitoring, fault diagnosis, and energy efficiency analysis should be established to achieve refined management of the entire power generation, storage, and consumption chain. At the same time, detailed maintenance plans and emergency response plans are necessary to ensure stable operation throughout the system’s decades-long lifecycle. Furthermore, the ease of future technological iterations and equipment replacement should be considered from the outset of the project.
Conclusion
Introducing photovoltaic energy storage systems into museums is a wise move that achieves a win-win situation for cultural heritage and sustainable development. It’s not just an economic solution that reduces costs and increases efficiency; it also addresses social responsibility, the safety of cultural relics, and future development. The key to success lies in striking a balance between advantages and caveats—treating historical buildings and precious cultural relics with reverence, while embracing green technology with an innovative spirit. Through scientific and rigorous planning and design, photovoltaic energy storage will surely inject new vitality into museums, allowing human civilization to flourish and flourish under the protection of Clean Energy.
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