What is BIPV?
Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) are solar power generating products or systems that are seamlessly integrated into the building envelope and part of building components such as façades, roofs or windows. Serving a dual purpose, a BIPV system is an integral component of the building skin that simultaneously converts solar energy into electricity and provides building envelope functions such as:
- weather protection (water proofing, sun protection);
- thermal insulation;
- noise protection;
- daylight illumination; and/or
- safety.
Applications
BIPV systems can be installed during the construction phase of a building or deployed in the course of a retrofit of an existing building when one of the envelope components needs to be replaced. The built environment allows for many ways to integrate BIPV. In general, there are three main application areas for BIPV:
- roofs (e.g. shingles, tiles, skylights)
- façades (e.g. cladding, curtain walls, windows) and
- externally integrated systems (e.g. balcony railings, shading systems)
Technologies
BIPV modules currently available on the market use either crystalline silicon-based (c-Si) solar cells or thin film technologies such as amorphous-based silicon (a-Si), cadmium telluride (CdTe) and copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS). Semi-transparency, for skylight or curtain wall applications for example, can be achieved with most technologies by either spacing opaque c Si solar cells or making the thin film layer transparent. However, the module efficiency decreases with the increase of transparency as less sunlight is captured and converted into electricity by the photovoltaic layer.
Benefits of BIPV
The benefits of BIPV are manifold: BIPV not only produces on-site clean electricity without requiring additional land area, but can also impact the energy consumption of a building through daylight utilization and reduction of cooling loads. BIPV can therefore contribute to developing net-zero energy buildings. Turning roofs and façades into energy generating assets, BIPV is the only building material that has a return on investment (ROI). Furthermore, the diverse use of BIPV systems opens many opportunities for architects and building designers to enhance the visual appearance of buildings. Finally, yet importantly, building owners benefit from reduced electricity bills and the positive image of being recognized as “green” and “innovative”.