Feature article

BIPV: Built-in solar energy

IN A TIME WHEN SOLAR PV IS CHARACTERISED AS BEING A PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE ALTERNATIVE FORM OF ENERGY SUBSIDIES NOTWITHSTANDING, ONE APPLICATION AREA THAT COULD MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE TO PERCEPTIONS IS BUILDING INTEGRATED PHOTOVOLTAICS BIPV. AND SUCH SYSTEMS HAVE NOT ONLY BECOME MORE EFFICIENT, BUT ALSO MORE ATTRACTIVE AND ADAPTABLE.
In the past, having solar panels on the roof of your home was the prerogative of the eco-warrior. The modules may have meant that you were producing energy cleanly from a renewable source, but it was also a social and political statement. The solar panels were obtrusive, did not t in harmoniously with any home design and long discussions between spouses preceded any decision. However, R&D in photovoltaics has led to enormous steps forward. And the outcome is Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV), a method by which the PV modules can be incorporated into the external fabric of the building. BIPV is growing in popularity as more and more architects and constructors begin to understand the possibilities available to their

Andreas Henemann

clients. The incentive structures in specific markets can also make larger-scale PV development attractive to both building owners who can offset electricity costs/generate money through feed-intariffs (FiTs) by investing in their roof space as well as equity investors who see the opportunity to make money from large scale BIPV projects. Various current initiatives in Europe oer high levels of subsidies for BIPV, or seek to mandate the construction industry to integrate more renewables in buildings, eectively a green light for BIPV. And the USA could also become an improved market with the recent announcement of an eight-year Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for solar initiatives. Even in markets where incentive schemes dont tend to favour PV, BIPV can help building owners save on their electricity costs.

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Commercial BIPV technologies

Today, mono and polycrystalline forms of silicon are the mainstay of the solar PV array industry. One strand of innovation is to incorporate these materials into modules that double as building elements, tiles and shingles in particular. While crystalline silicon remains the dominant building PV technology, its position is being challenged by thin-lm alternatives. Thin-lm solar materials that can conform to the building envelope can potentially supplant the rigid add-on arrays that adorn buildings today. Initially this trend is based on the exploitation of amorphous (non-crystalline) and micromorphous forms of silicon. The ability to deposit such material extremely thinly onto suitable substrate materials can yield solar cell wafers many times thinner than those produced from conventional crystalline silicon, which cannot be sliced from ingots to anything like the same degree of neness. Thin solar materials not only maximise the amount of active surface area exposed to solar radiation for a given volume of silicon, they also lend themselves to integration with buildings because they can be made exible and readily-bondable to the surfaces of conventional materials. Some are thin enough to be incorporated into glass while retaining transparency, eectively freeing solar PV from the connes of the roof and bringing it into facades. Producing thin-lm materials in continuous roll-to-roll processes rather than the batch step-and-repeat processes associated with conventional crystalline silicon oers the prospect of cost-ecient production and reduced system

cost per installed power capacity. Producers can leverage innovations in large-area deposition, roll coating and other processes used in the at panel display and architectural glass industries. Using amorphous silicon (a-Si or ASI) has the added advantage of sidestepping diculties currently faced by manufacturers regarding the global shortage of crystalline silicon wafers.

BIPV seeks to create as much function as possible from the building space. One example is the PV solar facade; these can in many cases be cheaper to construct than normal building facades (not to mention able to generate electricity), and the appearance can be attractive and modern, something that overcomes a key barrier to PV takeup in the eyes of some potential customers. BIPV could be a transformational technology, slashing the high proportion of conventional energy consumption accounted for by buildings, cutting CO2 emissions and easing pressure on fuel reserves. But further progress requires a high level of innovation to truly bring solar PV into buildings, and make the technology aordable.

arresting. Using BIPV creates a strikingly futuristic building. Its exibility is such that it can respond to the architects imagination and result in a building that is both impressive and environmentally friendly. It improves the image of a building and increases the resale value. BIPV systems can either be connected to the available utility grid or designed as stand-alone, o-grid systems. Buildings that produce power using renewable energy sources decrease the demands on traditional energy generators, reducing the overall emission of climate-change gases. And the consumer can makes savings through lower electricity bills due to peak shaving (matching peak production to periods of peak demand). Other advantages include: Photovoltaic modules can be integrated into the building envelope in a so-called non-ventilated facade, both on public buildings such as oce complexes, production buildings, shopping centres or schools, and on private buildings such as indoor gardens or terraced houses. The modules replace traditional building materials (e.g. spandrel glass) in new build and create an ambient inside temperature all-year round; Ventilated facades can be installed on existing buildings, giving old buildings a whole new look. These modules are mounted on the faade of the building, over the existing structure, which can increase the appeal of the building and its resale value; Solar modules can be incorporated into saw-tooth designs and awnings on a building faade. The angle of the awning increases access to direct sunlight, meaning increased energy. These can be used in entrances, terraces or simply as awnings to shade the rooms inside;

What is BIPV?
Essentially, BIPV refers to photovoltaic cells which can be integrated into the building envelope as part of the building structure, and therefore can replace conventional building materials, rather than being installed afterwards. Rather than sticking out like a sore thumb, BIPV modules can be naturally blended into the design of the building, creating a harmonious architecture. The beauty of BIPV lies in the name: it can be used in any external building surface. According to Udo Mhrstedt, the ceo and founder of IBC SOLAR, BIPV represents great contemporary, innovative potential, an excellent way for the buildings of the future to be truly green.

Why BIPV?
At rst glance the most distinctive attribute of BIPV is its appearance. Until now, PV has been a compromise between energy and aesthetics, as despite being ecient energy providers, the modules were not always pleasing to the eye. However, BIPV modules can be colourful and visually

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Using photovoltaics in a building envelope replaces traditional building materials and building processes. For example using BIPV in roong systems may replace batten and seam metal roong, and traditional 3-tab asphalt shingles; Glass-glass modules can be utilised as balustrades on balconies, for example for large rented accommodation or terraced houses, creating an eye-catching structure; Using photovoltaic cells for skylight systems in entrance halls, atria or courtyards, can be both an economical use of solar energy and an exciting design feature. BIPV cells have the advantage that their transparency can be varied so that if desired, the module can provide shade or be semi-transparent; Modules protect against the weather, giving shade from the sun as well as protection from wind and rain. They also protect against lightning, being an electrical resistor; When the weather gets cold (or hot) non-ventilated modules act as thermal insulation through the sandwich-construction of the modules themselves, the layer of air within the modules and the ray absorption by the crystalline silicon and thin film solar cells. This means that less energy is wasted by heat loss from the interior, reducing heating costs and keeping the building at an ambient temperature; Equally, the cells repel unwanted noise pollution and create a screen against potential electromagnetic interference, including so-called electro-smog. This makes them particularly useful in situations with large amounts of sensitive electrical activity, for example hospitals or airports.

Technologies for BIPV

The technology a building owner would need to select for BIPV depends on factors related to the roofs location. For example, crystalline modules would be recommended for scenarios where the building in question has a southern orientation (plus or minus 45%), with an inclination of between 20 and 60 degrees. However, on other projects with less than optimal positioning for example premises that have at roofs, industrial roofs, semi-at roofs, or east/west facing roofs and faades (to name a few examples), thin lm technology could be an eective solution to maximise power output available while osetting the capital investment of installation. Thin lm solutions also tend to be used on large roofs and industrial premises where space and area isnt a problem. As a general rule of thumb, thin lm technologies need roughly double the amount of area of modules for the same kW output. Another current challenge for the BIPV industry is to combine the latest module technologies with the best roong materials to develop/create a new solar system such as solar roong systems that utilise roong membranes with cables on the underside, for example.

In the Netherlands, IBC SOLAR was involved with the installation of a ventilated faade this incorporated 108 5.8 kWp of Kaneka 54 modules onto a production building, creating a visually-arresting working environment.

way for the adoption of solar systems, and we have nally reached the situation that The European Charter for Solar Energy in Architecture and Urban Planning called for in 1996: The aim of our work in the future must [] be to design buildings and urban spaces in such a way that natural resources will be conserved and renewable forms of energy especially solar energy will be used as extensively as possible. [] In order to attain these goals, it will be necessary to modify existing courses of instruction and training, as well as energy supply systems, funding and distribution models, standards, statutory regulations and laws in accordance with the new objectives. [] New systems and products in the eld of energy and construction technology should be capable of simple integration into a building and should be easy to replace or renew (Norman Foster, Frei Otto et al., Solar Energy in Architecture and Urban Planning. Prestel Verlag, Mnchen, New York 1996). It is with ideas such as these in mind that public bodies look favourably on photovoltaics. BIPV is currently one of the fastest-growing areas of the photovoltaic industry. BIPV improves the energy use of a building and can generate income through compensation for electricity fed into the grid. In France, as of 2008, general feed-in-taris for non-integrated solutions come to 31.193 ct/kWh on the mainland and 41.591 ct/kWh in the DOM-TOM and Corsica. Building integrated feed-in-taris are higher at 57.187 ct/kWh on the mainland, and 57.187 ct/kWh in the DOM TOM and Corsica. The

Current BIPV policy

Both business and Government are aware of the need to change how we look at the buildings around us. Technological innovation has paved the

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Future BIPV technologies the organic

connection
Progress in organic PV continues to accelerate. These solar cells made from plastics show great promise for decreasing the cost of solar energy to the point where they are expected to become widespread in the decades ahead; they will cover skyscraper faades and car roofs, or even be a part of clothes. The traditional silicone-based PV used today are expensive, as the price of crystalline silicone is rising due to high demand for computer chips. As this need is not likely to decrease, the prospect of a cheaper alternative which comes in a flexible and light film and that could even be sprayed or printed onto a surface attracts the interest of many universities, national laboratories and several companies around the world. Organic photovoltaic cells (OPV) are solar cells made mostly of organic molecules. Polymer OPV devices are typically made by solution-processing blends of two conjugated polymers, or a conjugated polymer with a molecular sensitiser. The most common materials are PPV Poly(p-phenylene vinylene), polyfluorenes, or polythiophenes. Polymer or plastic solar cells are the most heavily researched of all OPV technologies because they are the most promising when it comes to low cost. However, researchers predict that the day when buildings are energy self-sufficient due to organic PV is still far away. While great progress has been made towards understanding the chemistry, physics, and material science of polymer organic PV, more work is needed to improve their performance. Organic photovoltaic cells have not yet been developed to attain the same conversion rate (how much of the suns energy is converted into electricity) as traditional PV cells, which achieve around 15%. PlasticsEurope the European Association of Plastics Manufacturers confirms that further research is needed to bring plastic solar cells to the market. But the prospects look very exciting, especially with the mounting investment put into this technology. There is one European country in particular which seems to be positioning itself as a future market leader. In July 2007, the German Federal Government announced its support for industrial partners working on organic PV with 60 million within the framework of its High-Tech Strategy. Companies such as BASF, Bosch, Merck and Schott are working together at full steam planning to spend up to 300 million out of their own budgets to achieve mass-producible plastic PV membranes which can be curved, rolled and bent around corners. All eyes on conversion and lifespan In 2004, scientists at Princeton University produced organic photovoltaics of improved efficiency by stacking two types of organic cells

A glass substrate is spin-coated. This involves coating the substrate with a material lm, which is only a few nanometres thin, suitable for use in the colour solar cell. The previously sprayed substrate is placed on an aluminum plate and coated with the prepared solution. The plate is rotated at up to 6000 revs/minute to ensure that the solution is evenly distributed on the substrate (Source: BASF)

in a series. The absorption of light was maximised by tuning one type of cell to absorb long-wavelength light, and another to preferentially absorb short-wavelength solar energy. They achieved a maximum power conversion efficiency of 5.7%. At the time, they suggested that power conversion efficiencies exceeding 6.5% could be obtained through this technique. They were right. In 2007, a team of Korean and North American researchers announced the solar cell they had created had an efficiency of 6.5%, and could even make use of infra-red. This was achieved by again placing one cell on top of the other but using nano titanium oxide in between. The upper layer absorbs luminous light, while the lower layer makes use of infrared. At the time, scientists predicted that by using a special encapsulation process, the lifespan of their plastic-based solar cell could be extended considerably, overcoming the lifetime problems of most organic photovoltaics to date. This two-layer cell is expected to achieve low manufacturing costs by adopting a form of spin coating (the same spin coating that German BASF is working on see above). Lifetime problems could very soon be a thing of the past. In June 2008, the Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) announced that an organic PV material called PowerPlastic designed by Konarka Technologies, Inc. demonstrated outstanding long-life capabilities after comprehensive environmental testing under accelerated conditions, including high temperature storage and prolonged illumination. This technology (contrary to the belief of many researchers that organic solar cells require packaging with either glass or very expensive super barriers) has demonstrated an outstanding lifetime for flexible cells packaged with commerciallyavailable, low-cost materials. In four years, Konarka says it intends to have products for the buildingintegrated photovoltaics market with bifacial cells, for placement on windows, which can convert electricity from both sides. And according to the Joint Innovation Lab Organic Electronics in Germany, fold-up chargers for laptops or mobile phones are right on the brink of largescale production. Plastics technology is well positioned to take on the energy challenge, and the industry is sure that the worlds perspective on energy will change dramatically once plastic-based photovoltaics gains mass-market momentum.

Film of exible organic photovoltaics (Source: Konarka)

Jan-Erik Johansson Regional Director North of PlasticsEurope the European Association of Plastics Manufacturers.

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contracts have a duration of 20 years and are linked to ination. Additional investment subsidies are available as tax credits. On the other side of the Atlantic, in the USA, nancial incentives are organised at both State and Federal level Federal tax credits of 30% are on oer, capped at US$2000 for residential systems, but with no cap for businesses. A new 8-year ITC has just been passed by the US Congress. In Germany, the legal framework is the German Renewable Energy Sources Act (Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz EEG). Under this, the feed-in-taris for BIPV from 2009 will go from 43.01 ct/kWh for a system of less than 30 kWp, to 40.91 ct/kWh for a system between 30 and 100 kWp, to 39.58 ct/kWh for a system of more than 100 kWp. Contracts last for 20 years, during which time there is constant remuneration. The German law was one of the rst to come into force and since then similar models have developed all over the world. In Asia, Malaysia introduced the Renewable Energy Power Purchase Agreement (REPPA) in 2001. The REPPA allows independent power producers to sell electricity to the grid. The selling price for electricity for renewable sources was capped at a ceiling of RM17 cent/kWh or US$0.045/kWh. To date, more than 60 project proposals have been approved by the Special Committee on Renewable Energy (SCORE) chaired by the Ministry of Energy Communications and Multimedia. Legislation like this has permitted corporations such as IBC SOLAR to undertake projects all around the world. In Pusat Tenaga in Malaysia, IBC SOLAR completed a BIPV project integrating PV into the roof of an oce complex. Dubbed the Zero Energy Oce, the building is self-sucient, with enough power from solar systems for the targeted building energy index of less than 50 kWh/m/year (4200 m oor area, accommodating up to 111 sta ). There are four dierent PV systems installed in the building, demonstrating the dierent ways external surfaces can be used to harness solar energy. The rst and biggest comprises of 47.28 kWp polycrystalline modules on the main roof, followed by amorphous silicon modules with a capacity of 6.08 kWp on the second main roof. The building atrium is made of glassglass semi-transparent modules with a capacity of 11.64 kWp. The use of solar modules is not limited to the oces as the car park roof is integrated with monocrystalline modules with a capacity of 27 kWp.

it is essential [for a] close working relationship between architects, planners and industry...so that the full potential of BIPV may be exploited.
As stated in The European Charter for Solar Energy in Architecture and Urban Planning, it will be necessary to modify existing courses of instruction and training, as well as energy supply systems, funding and distribution models, standards, statutory regulations and laws in accordance with the new objectives. (Norman Foster, Frei Otto et al., Solar Energy in Architecture and Urban Planning. Prestel Verlag, Mnchen, New York 1996) The future green buildings will look very dierent to the landscape we see around us today. BIPV responds to these needs by providing energy to the utility grid as well as reducing the reliance on the grid. Furthermore, due to the insulation benets of solar modules, it reduces energy wastage. The new buildings of today also represent a long-term investment in the future. The buildings we erect now will still be standing in 2050 and so we must be aware of the implications this has; they will dene our future living and building environment. Norbert Hahn, vice president marketing & sales at IBC SOLAR foresees a growing interest in photovoltaics: Thinking mid- to long-term, we anticipate a strong demand for BIPV from abroad for new build from Asia and the United Arab Emirates in particular. We anticipate increased call for BIPV, both in Germany and in Europe as a whole, in the restoration of existing building stock. This is because of new carbon dioxide reduction targets, which building regulations play a crucial part in. Despite currently being a young innovation, in the future BIPV needs to be standardised in order to allow the mass production of modules, and the ease of purchase and replacement. However, this standardisation must not inhibit the creativity of the architect. BIPV modules should be constructed to allow a gradual replacement of any traditional building material. Above all, it is essential that there be close working relationships between architects, planners and industry through an exchange of information and training so that the full potential of BIPV may be exploited. With BIPV, solar systems are becoming a standard building component, just like glass panes or doors. This allows homeowners and architects to take energy consumption into account when designing a home, without compromising energy eciency or aesthetics.

Looking to the future

In the future many more demands will be made of building envelopes. They will not be merely required to shelter us from the weather, but they will also need to meet the exacting requirements of the architects, building designers, building owners and even buildings users. Greater requirements for comfort (concerning light and temperature inside the building); Greater requirements for heat insulation and energy saving buildings will have the goal of equalising the energy input with the energy output; Protecting building users from negative environmental impact (e.g. pollution, noise and smells); Passive, environmentally friendly and noiseless solar energy use.

About the author:

Andreas Henemann is project manager of Building Integrated Photovoltaics, IBC SOLAR

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