SOLAR BUILDING BRICKS

The Solar Light Brick is a flashy gimmick, NOT building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) – but it hints at the potential of BIPV.

Sunrise Solar Corp calls these bricks “the integration of solar technologies into traditional construction materials” but in fact it really is solar technology (cell and battery) inside construction material (brick).

Still, by storing solar energy and shining in the dark, the Solar Light Brick suggests what is possible when storage technology gets a little better.

In the interim, NanoMarket’s July report shows that architects and builders are not waiting for storage capacity breakthroughs to integrate thin films into structural concepts.

There has long been the BIPV benefit of replacing building materials with energy-generating materials. The newest developments are (1) the falling price burden of those energy-generating materials and (2) the truly functional quality of new flexible thin-film materials.

From NanoMarkets: “Until recently, almost all BIPV installations were based on crystalline silicon (c-Si), with only a few amorphous silicon (a-Si) sites globally. In the past few years, however, solar cell producers have been investigating and even switching to other thin-film materials, notably CIS/CIGS mixes, CdTe and organic materials (DSC/OPV).”

The architects, designers and builders are getting into solar through BIPV. (click to enlarge)

Sunrise Solar Introduces Solar Building Brick
September 2, 2008 (Sunrise Solar Corp/Business Wire via MarketWatch)
and
Building Integrated Photovoltaics Markets – 2008
July 17, 2008 (NanoMarkets)

WHO
Sunrise Solar Corp (SSLR) (Eddie Austin, Chairman/CEO); Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) pioneers (Ascent Solar, Atlantis Energy, Avancis, BP Solar, DRI Energy – LUMETA, Dyesol, First Solar, Fraunhofer ISE, Global Solar Energy, Heliovolt, Konarka Technologies, Kyocera Solar, Open Energy, PowerFilm, Sanyo Electric, Scheuten Solar , Schott Solar, Schuco, Sharp, Solar Century, Solar World, Sun Phocus Technologies, SunPower Corp., Suntech Power, United Solar Ovonic, Wurth Solar)

WHAT
Solar Light Brick and a new report from NanoMarkets (available for only $4,995) explores BIPV, the architectural, structural and aesthetic integration of PV into buildings, and describes the growing investment opportunities.

An beautiful example of BIPV. (click to enlarge)

WHEN
- BIPV has been around for decades.
- In the Solar Brick, built-in solar cells generate electricity that is stored during periods of sunlight and built-in lights are activated after dark.
- Factors are making BIPV an opportunity now: (1) Growing interest = Growing volume = competive prices; (2) Advances in organic and thin-film technologies that make new PV materials more flexible, lighter weight and lower in cost than conventional PV; (3) Growing awareness of architects.
- 2012: SunPower expects to use its BIPV materials to cut solar energy generating costs to 12 to 18 cents per kilowatt-hour.

WHERE
- BIPV replaces part of the building “envelope.”
- Inside the Solar Brick is an advanced solar cells, an energy storage device and a crystal lighting system.

WHY
- Basic integration of solar panels requires no technological advancement.
- The BIPV report (1) covers enabling technologies and materials, (2) provides examples of major building projects already using BIPV concepts, (3) analyzes regulatory factors around the world, and (4) provides detailed volume and value forecasts.
- SunPower’s BIPV material is Gen 3 crystalline silicon (c-Si ) based PV: 23.4% efficiency, commercially available in ~2 years.
- Suntech’s "Just Roof" BIPV system has been around for ~15 years.
- United Solar Ovonics' pioneering lightweight, rugged flexible amorphous silicon roofing market has been incorporated at reasonable cost.
- Only Wurth Solar has commercialized CIS modules.
- The solar brick can light in any color.
- The solar brick operates without any wiring grid and can be put in any construction materials.
- Potential applications: Rural airfields, building lighting, safety lights, decorative lighting.

Solar Bricks. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- From the NanoMarket report: “…CIGS has yet to make full-scale market entry. It has made some impressive inroads by supplying its PV materials to the tallest global CIGS tower at Ulm in Germany…”
- From the NanoMarket report: “The future of DSC looks quite promising given its high aesthetic appeal due to its transparent dyes base and enhanced stability. Dyesol in Australia is working with the steel giant Corus to develop its technology for steel BIPV applications…”
- From the NanoMarket report: “In the OPV field, Konarka Technologies is busy improving Its PowerPlastic OPV system stability and performance and products maybe out in the market in 2009 from its partner SkyShades…”
- Eddie Austin, Chairman and CEO of Sunrise Solar Corp.: "As we continue to introduce innovative solar products that deliver dynamic energy solutions that can be applied today, we are proud to introduce the 'solar light brick'…This creative product can provide lighting and decoration with no connection to a power grid and can be imbedded in a wall or concrete slab as an integrated part ofthe structural design."