Agricultural PV: Combining Photovoltaics and Agriculture

Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) blurs the line between architectural element and solar installation by integrating PV modules into building envelopes. More construction than energy technology, it has great potential - especially in the urban sector, where it expands the potential areas beyond rooftops to include façades while increasing the acceptance of energy technology in public spaces by offering creative solutions. In this session, we will provide an overview of this topic and highlight the potentials. We will present numerous examples of integrations on rooftops and façades. The session will also shed some light on the topic of colored PV modules, the impact of cutting-edge planning tools for implementing projects and technological scenarios for the PV modules of the future. At the end of the session, partners that provide information and support for BIPV projects will be introduced.

European research institutes are leaders in solar cell research, as evidenced by impressive results in TOPCon, SHJ, and IBC cells. Promising laboratory results paint a bright future for the technological development, with the next frontier involving the integration of clean room technologies into production lines. Additionally, innovative approaches by forward-thinking companies aim to conserve resources, such as silicon, silver, and process consumables, through consumption reduction or the use of alternative materials and processes. This session brings together pioneering approaches, alongside steady and robust R&D development on the journey from lab to fab. Solar device development is high-tech.

The technology for wafer, cell, and module production is continuously advancing. Currently, silicon-based solar modules hold approximately 97 percent of the global market share. While the passivated emitter and rear cell concept (PERC) remains prevalent, there is a notable shift towards tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon), expected to lead in terms of market share by the end of 2024, alongside silicon heterojunction (SHJ), and interdigitated back contact (IBC) cells. The transition to these technologies is fast, for which innovative cell manufacturing approaches are considered.European machine manufacturers are at the forefront of providing solutions to the global market. Their cutting-edge equipment is designed to facilitate the high-quality and efficient production of solar cells. In this session, machine and equipment suppliers, together with European cell manufacturers, will discuss the current state-of-the-art production technology and future trends in the post-TW market.