BIPV

An international research team has analyzed which factors contribute to fire accidents in PV facades and has found that the distance between the wall and the photovoltaic modules plays a crucial role. The scientists also said project developers should attentively consider what combustible materials are embedded in the wall cavity.

The latest report from the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) says the building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) industry is facing significant challenges due to a lack of clear testing and certification procedures. It says international consensus and the harmonization of certification processes will be crucial for widespread adoption of the technology.

Researchers in the Netherlands have analyzed the performance of PV façades during the period 2018-2023 and have found that these system may generate more economic value than conventional rooftop PV systems. Their analysis was based on financial, technical and environmental metrics

Scientists have developed a window that uses a semi-transparent amorphous silicon PV layer. The group tested the system in London at different inclination angles and found it can achieve a maximum electrical efficiency of 3.6% and a maximum thermal efficiency of 17.6%.

Building-integrated PV (BIPV) could make a substantial contribution to Australia’s clean energy transition, but one industry expert says a lack of understanding about the value and versatility of the technology means it remains underutilized.

The novel smart solar window combines photoelectric and electrochromic functions. It can produce electricity while also regulating the amount of solar radiation entering a building.

Swiss retailer Lehner Versand generates 24.5% of its building energy needs thanks to a renovation project that added 109 kW capacity of solar PV to its facade. The PV array has a sequins-like effect, enabled by screen-printed glass modules and a novel curtain wall sub-structure.

The Spanish building integrated PV manufacturer has launched glass-glass modules suitable for rooftops and other urban spaces. The new products have a nominal capacity of 75 W.

The Chinese manufacturer said the device is based on dense passivating contacts that reduce parasitic light absorption and improve passivation. It used a streamlined manufacturing technique that is reportedly about one-third more effective than TOPCon mainstream technology.

A study by the University of Freiburg and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems finds that deploying color-matching solar modules on a building’s roof or facade further increases social acceptance of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV).