Ritter’s evacuated solar thermal tubes in particular are making use of a semitransparent perforated aluminium CPC reflector in a solar thermal collector for domestic hot water, heating and cooling, which is integrated in an aluminium frames and becomes a complete module of an element façade from Wicona, a brand of Hydro’s building systems business.

The award was given at the European Aluminium Night, Tuesday, September 14, a festive highlight to the world-leading industry trade fair Aluminium 2010 in Essen. The award jury lauded Ritter for “an innovative concept that combines design and functionality.” Hydro is a sponsor of the award.

In June, the complete system “WICTEC-CPC façade” won the INTERSOLAR 2010 prize for its smart and attractive use of solar thermal tubes in a façade system.

The WICTEC-CPC façade, which was developed with Ritter, Wicona, University of Stuttgart, Frener & Reifer Metallbau, and supported by the Federal Ministry for the Environment of Germany, is assembled in a workshop by skilled metal building companies and installed on site, as a perfect tailor-made solution fitting the building design.

The HBS Solar Competence Centre and HBS Germany worked closely together to achieve this innovative solution in the construction market, on one side for the research and design and on the other side for a reliable commercial partnership.

Ritter Energie & Umwelttechnik, based in Karlsbad, Germany, has been involved in the development and construction of solar thermal tubes for many years.