Page 20 - North American Clean Energy November December 2015

solar energy

Building

Integrated

Photovoltaics

by Richard Voreis

ONE OF THE MOST PROMISING renewable energy technologies
Here are some “fast facts” applicable to photovoltaics in the United
is photovoltaics (PV). It is truly a viable means of producing States:

ISO17025
electricity on site, directly from the sun, without concern for
energy supply or environmental harm. he PV modules simply • he United States is the fastest growing major market for
make electricity out of sunlight, silently, with no maintenance, no photovoltaics in the world.
pollution, and no depletion of materials. So what is there not to • he DOE has set a goal for the year 2025, by which 100% of

like about PV?
new commercial buildings will be net-zero energy buildings;
producing at least as much energy as they use. BIPV and BAPV
Here’s another timely solar energy question:
will play major roles in reaching this goal.
Can the sun save us if the world’s population would harvest solar • Any conventional glass application can be replaced with BIPV

energy?
modules having the same structural and thermal characteristics.
• Grid parity is the point at which photovoltaic electricity is equal
Here’s the answer:
to or cheaper than grid power.

he amount of sunlight that strikes the earth in one hour could provide • Utility rates have increased every year for the past 20 years, and
all the energy for the world’s population for a year.
with the increasing pressure on carbon reduction, those rates will
increase more aggressively.
Because of the growing demand for renewable sources of • Much of the United States is expected to reach grid parity by

energy, the manufacturing of photovoltaic solar cells and solar 2016 to 2018 when the use of BIPV will rise.
modules has advanced dramatically in recent years. Some of • In the United States, applications using photovoltaic modules
the newer advancements include thin-ilm applications on integrated into fenestration products, as well as applied to
glass, as well as other developing technologies involving glass rooftops, and installed in solar ields will soon begin to rise.

in fenestration applications. “Fenestration” is deined as the • here is new technology in transparent PV modules which will
design and integration of windows, curtain walls, doors, and drive BIPV acceptance with architects. Architects who strive to
other related products in the exterior openings of buildings.
create building designs with appealing aesthetics have typically
steered away from the conventional “black and blue” PV modules,

Next Big Growth Opportunity
believing they distract from the aesthetics of the building’s
Photovoltaics will be the next big growth opportunity in the design, and preferring just to incorporate them in rooftop
exterior building envelope; especially, in building integrated installations. he new transparent BIPV technology (see image
photovoltaics (BIPV) and building applied photovoltaics (BAPV).
above) overcomes that resistance by enhancing visual appeal.

here are three major market segments for photovoltaics:
Building Integrated Photovoltaics
• Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) - Fenestration BIPV is a term for the design and integration of photovoltaics into
Applications
the building envelope, usually replacing conventional building

• Building Applied Photovoltaics (BAPV) - Rooftop Applications materials. his integration normally occurs in vertical fa̧ades by
• Solar Fields - Ground Mounted Applications
replacing view glass, spandrel glass, or other fa̧ade components
in the building envelope. BIPV generates energy at the point of
he U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) estimates that BIPV and consumption as an integral part of the building’s fa̧ade in oice

BAPV applications of photovoltaics have the potential to generate buildings, hospitals, retail buildings, hotels, airports, educational
up to half the electricity needed in this country.
facilities, and more.

20 nacleanenergy.com
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015