Color and design: These aspects have been largely overlooked in the traditional application of photovoltaics (PV). But building-integrated PV (BIPV) is now on the rise: To establish PV in cities and garner public acceptance for PV, a significant rise in BIPV is expected. What is more, existing products and solutions have been refined considerably.
Intersolar 2024 was a colorful affair – in the true sense of the word. From turquoise to white, all kinds of unusual solar module colors could be seen at last year’s exhibition. Colorful solar modules are the latest trend. Color printing on PV glass has greatly improved over recent years, and the efficiency loss for designer products – even for very light colors – has been reduced to just 5 to 10 percent compared with conventional PV products.
Thanks to novel printing methods, the range of colors, and thus the availability of bespoke BIPV solutions, is practically limitless. The company Ceramic Colors Wolbring, for example, has developed a process for the production of modules where the color layer is printed on the rear of the front glass and merely reflects, rather than absorbs, sunlight.
Other manufacturers of BIPV products are also working on developing PV modules that are unrecognizable as such and that replace conventional building components. You can now get PV roof tiles that look exactly like conventional roof tiles and can replace them. Photonroof from Poland claims that their PV roof tiles generate 30 percent more energy than conventional PV roof-mounted systems, thanks to the seamless covering of the roof and the avoidance of shading. Their roof tiles are available in grey, black and terracotta.
BIPV between mass production and tailored design: The market is still developing within a field of tension where BIPV modules can only become more competitive with standard modules when the production is scaled up. According to Philippe Macé, Partner and COO of the Becquerel Institute and BIPV expert, the costs for standardized BIPV modules are still two to three times above those of conventional PV modules. At the same time, the construction industry often requires tailored solutions that have to meet unique design aspects. Producers such FuturaSun, an Italian module manufacturer, are trying this balancing act: FuturaSun are working on expanding the color range they offer by adding silver, orange and red to the standardized black BIPV façade module.
There is also research into BIPV that is driving new developments: The Fraunhofer Institute for Environment, Safety, and Energy Technology UMSICHT and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE have developed a prefabricated façade element with integrated photovoltaics that produces electricity, protects against unfavorable weather conditions and provides heat insulation.
Intersolar Europe 2024 also saw a trend towards innovative BIPV mounting solutions, for example from K2, a manufacturer of façade-integrated PV.