Despite current weak conditions, the global market for Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) is set for huge long-term growth, with beneficiaries including both the solar industry and the construction industry, a new report says.
In its Building Integrated Photovoltaics report, clean energy research provider Pike Research says current market conditions for BIPV systems – photovoltaic materials which are used in place of conventional building materials in parts of the building envelope such as the roof, skylight or facade – are being constrained by weak global construction and the withdrawal in many countries of subsidies for solar power.
Pike says, however, that long-term growth prospects are excellent. Between now and 2017, Pike expects overall annual generating capacity of BIPV systems around the world to grow from just over 400 megawatts (MW) to 2,250 MW.
In dollar value terms, the research firm expects the global value of the market to grow from $US606 million to more than $2.4 billion over the same time period.
“The growing availability of energy-efficient, flexible, and transparent solar materials is transforming the way that architects and building engineers view, and use, photovoltaic systems,” Pike research director Kerry-Ann Adamson says. “In the future, BIPV will no longer be confined to spandrel or overhead applications. Rather, the entire building envelope will be able to put it to use, allowing the structure to produce its own power and feed additional power into the grid system.”
While commercial BIPV construction products specifically designed to be integrated into the building envelope first appeared in the 1970s, they were not widely available until the 1990s. Common applications include installation of modules in roofing as well as the replacement of a number of architectural elements commonly made with glass in glazing of windows or skylights.
One area currently experiencing growth revolves around the mounting of modules on top of the existing facade of buildings, giving older buildings a complete new look and appeal.
Though Pike says the market has drawn scant attention from major players until recently, it says there are now exciting developments, with a number of players in the supply chain working together to provide solutions for the entire building envelope. Pike says one of the most important steps for the industry now revolves around the development of finished solar modules made by continuous production from PV rolls.
Developing the ability to print the PV coating directly on to steel roof cladding, the report says, will allow the modules to be produced cost effectively in large volumes.
By Andrew Heaton
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