THE INTEGRATION OF SUN WITH STRUCTURE

BIPV Solar Market Accelerates According to GTM Research; GTM Research releases new report, Building-Integrated Photovoltaics: An Emerging Market
August 3, 2010 (Greentech Media)

THE POINT
For at least two decades, architects and designers have tried to imagine making solar energy receivers disappear into the very fabric of a structure.

Building-Integrated Photovoltaics: An Emerging Market, from Greentech Media Research, heralds the emergence of Building Integrted Photovoltaic (BIPV) technology, after years of promise, as a real player in the solar marketplace. The dream of architecturally and aesthetically appealing solar energy, it finds, is about to be become a reality.

No longer does the generation of electricity from solar energy require rooftop-mounted panels. The newest materials can be incorporated into the building envelope, replace structural materials like roofing shingles, serve functional or decorative ends like curtain walls and thereby reduce construction costs by combining the services of shelter and energy generation.

This unique dual potential explains the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) estimate that BIPV could eventually meet half of U.S. electricity needs.

New lightweight, flexible, multicolored, partially transparent and versatile materials from cutting edge manufacturers (Dyesol, Schott Solar, Scheuten Solar, Sunpower, Suntech, Applied Solar, Dow, Saint-Gobain, Lumeta) can be integrated seamlessly into structures in striking ways – on roofs and skylights as well as in facades and windows – that not only don’t detract from a building’s aesthetic quality but actually enhances it.

The report sets out a very literal definition of BIPV: Photovoltaic technology incorporated into the skin of the structure and nothing less. Such a definition requires all the players (architect, designer, engineer, owner, utility) to come together from inception on to truly build in solar power.

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In light of this definition, it is surely no coincidence that many of the nations with the best incentives for BIPV solar energy systems – Belgium, France, Germany, Italy – are nations with great architectural traditions. But to fully emerge, the study reports, BIPV needs more than advanced incentives. Going forward, BIPV will require responses on a spectrum of needs from its supply chain, its manufacturers, its regulators, its designers and its industry as a whole.

As these needs are met - driven by the greater need for New Energy and Energy Efficient buildings, by the intuitive appeal of the concept, and by the effectiveness of FiTs and other incentives - BIPV will, according to the GTM study, leave its niche-market status behind to achieve economies of scale and become an undeniable force in the solar sector.

The BIPV market dropped in 2009 with the downturns in overall economy and, especially, the construction industry. The solar industry returned to a continued emphasis on building-added photovoltaics (BAPV), the standard rooftop and ground-mounted panels.

But, citing U.S. Congressional Budget Office (CBO) predictions that 2008’s 1.53 million new housing starts will be surpassed by 2010’s 1.56 million starts, the GTM report expects the BIPV market to return to growth in late 2010 and continue to expand going forward, as new housing starts reach 1.58 million in 2012.

Heralding BIPV's global breakout is the July 2010 opening of the Hongqiao Rail Station in Shanghai, China, the world’s biggest stand alone BIPV structure to date, a 6.68 megawatt undertaking and an architectural feast.

The report includes assessments of BIPV (1) technologies, (2) materials, (3) products, (4) international and U.S. markets, market segments and distribution channels, (5) applications, (6) policy issues, (7) economics, (8) supply chain players, and (9) suppliers and manufacturers. GTM is selling the study for $1495.00.

The Hongqiao Rail Station in Shanghai, China, the world’s biggest stand alone BIPV structure to date. (click to enlarge)

THE DETAILS
The potential of BIPV has barely been tapped. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) estimate that BIPV can meet half of U.S. electricity needs is based on (1) a growing demand for its use in residential and commercial buildings for structural, functional, decorative and energy-generating purposes and (2) the inevitability of increased incentives, such as a feed-in tariff (FiT), to support its scaling.

The study indicates PV installed capacity will pass 20 gigawatts (GW) worldwide by 2013, generating ~US$60 billion in revenue. PV panel cost in 2013 is projected to fall to ~US$1.20/W. This growth is expected to increasingly incorporate BIPV materials to take advantage of their inherent Energy Efficiency opportunities.

6 things still required for BIPV’s full emergence:
(1) Supply chain player cooperation to create the most potent products,
(2) Reduced costs in both the industry-wide category of dollars per Watt,peak ($/Wp) and in the building industry metric of dollars per square meter ($/m2),
(3) Development of stringent BIPV standards and supportive building codes,
(4) Strong federal and local incentives,
(5) Aesthetic value for architects, designers and consumers, and
(6) Competitive production at scale.

Limiting factors to BIPV development:
(1) Technical barriers,
(2) Legal and administrative barriers, and
(3) Market barriers.
(4) Perception barriers

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Technical barriers:
(1) There are now no solar PV standards that recognize the unique advantages and requirements of BIPV materials but they are being developed by (a) EU Eurocodes, (b) International Electrotechnical Commission(IEC), (c) Underwriters Laboratories, and (d) American Standards Test Method (ASTM).
(2) The dual function of BIPV materials adds weight and must be incoroporated into ne building codes to prevent structural failures. Codes based on California’s green building code are being developed, such as the International Coding Council’s International Green Construction Code (IGCC) for commercial buildings, expected by 2012.
(3) BIPV standards should include: (a) High mechanical strength; (b) high resistance to impact; (c) fire resistance; (d) recyclability; (e) aesthetically pleasing; (f) high efficiency; (g) easy to install; (h) weatherproofing.

Legal and administrative barriers:
(1) Building codes must allow things like (1) using BIPV materials in historical renovations, and (2) using BIPV materials to meet Energy Efficiency requirements.
(2) Regulatory complexities applying to BIPV use must be streamlined.

Market barriers:
(1) Cost-competiveness must begin with the recognition of BIPV materials’ dual functionality.
(2) Cooperation between the PV industry and the building industry can be facilitated by reconciling the solar industry’s cost metric of $/Wp and the building industry's metric of $/m2.

Perception barriers:
(1) Clarification of BIPV advantages in concrete terms
(2) Metrics that demonstrate to those concerned with aesthetics how valuable energy-generation is in residential and commercial buildings

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BIPV’s most promising application, simply and obviously, is making energy generation additions to new and retrofitted residential and commercial buildings aesthetically pleasing. To do this, BIPV materials can be incorporated (1) into facades as cladding and curtain walls, (2) into roofing as solar tiles, slates, shingles and single-ply membranes, and (3) into windows as glazing, skylights and sunshades.

The most cost-effective use of BIPV is in new building. Use in retrofits will be a smaller market in the foreseeable future.

BIPV technology development has historically been led by European countries where there is a strong commitment to both solar energy and architectural aesthetics. Germany’s FiT set the standard but France has introduced a high FiT for BIPV to emphasize its growth. The Czech Republic, Belgium, Greece, Portugal, Italy, Slovenia and Switzerland also provide strong support for solar in general and BIPV in particular.

In North America, the Canadian province of Ontario broke ground with a large-scale FiT. California and New Jersey have very strong solar incentives that have driven BIPV growth there.

Except for Japan, Asia has lagged behind in BIPV so far but China, India and South Korea are rapidly rousing.

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Technological advances are driving BIPV growth. Though crystalline silicon comprises 85% of the overall solar market, it is the flexibility and aesthetic appeal of the newest thin-film materials that have enormously expanded BIPV’s usefulness.

The thin-films use amorphous silicon (a-Si), cadmium telluride (CdTe), cadmium indium gallium diselenide (CIGS), dye sensitized cells (DSC) and organic photovoltaics (OPV). These materials cost less and their diminished efficiencies are not factors in BIPV uses. Their ease of use and recently-achieved durability make their ease of use more valuable than whatever efficiencies may be lost.

The most popular material so far is a-Si. It has an efficiency of 8-to-10%. It is being seriously challenged by CdTe, which is driving down costs to unprecendented levels and getting an efficiency of over 11%. CIGS, DSC and OPV have not yet fully emerged but are expected to offer unique advantages as they realize their potentials. Looking ahead, GTM sees OPV as the most ideally matched material for BIPV applications.

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BIPV-supporting companies in the report:
(1) Aishin Seiki Co. Ltd. (2) Akeena Solar (3) Applied Solar (4) Arch Aluminum & Glass Co (5) Arnold Glass (6) Ascent Solar (7) Atlantis Energy Systems (8) BP Solar (9) Carlisle Energy Systems (10) Centrosolar (11) CertainTeed (12) Corus Colors (13) Dow Solar Solutions (14) Dyesol Technologies (15) Eagle Roofing (16) Energy Conversion Devices (17) ERG Renew (18) Ertex Solar (19) First Solar (20) GE Solar (21) Global Solar Energy (22) Heliatek GmbH (23) Heliovolt (24) Honda Soltec (25) Johns Manville E3CO (26) Kalzip (27) Konarka Technologies (28) Kyocera Solar (29) Lafarge (30) Lumeta Inc. (31) Nanosolar (32) Petersen-Dean Roofing and Solar Systems (33) PowerFilm Inc. (34) PV Systems (35) Romag Holdings (36) Saint-Gobain (Avancis) (37) Sanyo Electric Company (38) Scheuten Solar (39) Schott Solar (40) Schüco (41) Sharp Solar (42) Skyshades (43) Solarion AG (44) Solarmer Energy (45) Solyndra (46) SRS Energy (47) Sulfurcell Solartechnik (48) SunPower Corporation (49) Suntech Power Holdings (50) Tegola Canadese (51) Timo Technology (52) Unimetal (53) Wurth Solar

The Hongqiao Rail Station in Shanghai, China, the world’s biggest stand alone BIPV structure to date. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- From the GTM BIPV report: “The development of thin-film flexible solar modules promises to be a major benefit to the BIPV market, since such modules will offer far better performance, as well as varying degrees of transparency and multiple color options. This will provide designers the opportunity to expand traditionhal architecture and transform buildings into aesthetically pleasing, energy-producing structures.”

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- Philip Drachman, report author, GTM Research: "The BIPV solar market's grasp is finally meeting its reach thanks to both significant cost reductions over the past two years and product development that is enabling seamless integration of PV into the building envelope…"

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- From the GTM BIPV report: “Until recently, aesthetic and performance concerns limited the ability of architects to use BIPV technology in their designs, but this is all changing with the emergence of energy-efficient and transparent solar materials that offer superior performance and multiple color options. With these features, BIPV will no longer need to be confined to spandrel or overhead applications using conventional silicon solar technology; rather, an entire building envelope can be put to use, allowing the structure to produce its own power using flexible thin-film materials…”