SUN GETTING INTEGRATED IN FRANCE, ITALY

…High Growth for Building Integrated Photovoltaics Fuelled by France and Italy
23 March 2011 (World of Renewables)

"Distinctive tariffs and increasing awareness about their benefits are the main drivers of demand for building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) [and the market earned revenues of EUR 1,297.7 million in 2009 and estimates this to reach EUR 2,698.1 million in 2016]…However, more suitable and standardised products are required in the market. Decline and withdrawal of incentives in the near future will be the main challenge…"

[Neetha Jayanth, Senior Research Analyst, Frost & Sullivan:] "The European BIPV market is growing rapidly due to regions like France and Italy which provide added incentives to consumers to adopt this technology in their homes…In addition, markets like Germany have not given into the pressures of recession and have, in fact, surpassed expected growth…Integration of solar PV in buildings is one of the best available options that will [reduce building emissions and increase renewable energy use]…"

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"Smaller markets like the United Kingdom and Alpine countries are also poised to grow due to the special tariffs available for BIPV. The future offers good prospects for BIPV, provided legislative incentives continue.

"In an effort to meet the energy targets set by the European Union (EU), member states are trying to increasingly adopt renewable energy, especially in buildings. The Energy Performance Buildings Directive (EPBD, 2002/91/EC) and its recast in May 2010 as well as the Renewable Energy Directive (2001/77/EC), require countries to reduce the energy consumption of buildings and increase the proportional usage of renewable energy…"

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"Cost remains one of the key challenges to market growth. The high initial investment required for installing BIPV systems makes it a more expensive option to using grid-based electricity and traditional construction materials…There needs to be greater symbiosis between the PV and the construction industry…[so] BIPV [is incorporated] into the process of design and construction…

"A wider range of products needs to be made available specifically for building integration. Planners…need to be made aware of these not just for their value as PV material, but also as alternate construction material. This needs to be done with the help of showcase development and adoption of updated building codes…"