As the climate crisis looms, all eyes turn towards humanity’s attempts at preserving the planet’s lifelines. Energy consumption lies at the center of this crisis, characterized by rapid consumption patterns and a slow switch towards renewable sources. Amidst these largely depleting resources, solar energy offers a unique advantage, which is its abundance. Current techniques to harness solar energy primarily involve the installation of solar panels in open areas to ensure direct sunlight for maximum efficiency. This poses a challenge in the growing urban environment, where space is a limitation and is often maximized for economic returns. As the prices of land rise, there is an imperative need to adopt technologies that can be seamlessly incorporated into our existing urban fabrics. BIPV or building-integrated photovoltaics help solve this issue since these devices replace traditional building components with energy-harnessing alternates. BIPV modules have the potential to be integrated into the architecture of buildings without taking up additional space and also offer multifold advantages for a more sustainable future.
Benefits of BIPV
BIPV systems consist of largely 2 components, a photovoltaic (PV) module, which is an array of cells responsible for harnessing energy, and the building component. This offers a dual advantage where BIPV acts as part of the building envelope while also generating energy. Producing onsite energy helps partially or completely offset a building’s operational energy and thus helps reduce its carbon footprint.
Another advantage of BIPV is its impact on the thermal performance of a building. These systems can provide thermal insulation and absorb solar energy before it heats building interiors. BIPV can currently be used for roofing and glazing facade systems, and it has the potential to be integrated into concrete as well. While integration into concrete remains experimental, Tesla’s Solar Roofs have become a high-profile product providing high returns to visually discrete roof shingles that blend seamlessly into the facade.
Implementation in Design
BIPV products pose various challenges in implementation, out of which high cost is the most significant one. The cost of these systems is 2.5 to 3 times more than traditional solar panels, which although offset with use over time, require significantly large initial investments. This investment in technology also entails installation costs that often require skilled labor and additional maintenance. The payback period taken to offset the initial investment also greatly depends on the efficiency of BIPV systems which in turn is highly variable depending on various factors such as the number of modules, shading systems, height, wind speed, direction, and orientation of the sun. A thorough accounting of all these factors is instrumental in providing context-specific solutions that can greatly enable sustainable energy consumption and contribute to economic savings in the long run.
The Copenhagen International School in Denmark is an exemplary example of integrating BIPV into building facades as a characteristic feature of its architecture. It makes use of 12,000 solar panels, which contribute to more than half the school’s energy consumption. The panels are additionally tilted to maximize solar irradiance while also enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the facade. Another interesting aspect of the BIPV system is that its monitoring is included in the schools’ curriculum, effectively training the next generation of energy-conscious pallbearers of humanity.
SwissTech Convention Center is another example of a well-used BIPV system. This structure makes use of dye photovoltaic cells, which add a colorful twist to its interior spaces. These translucent panels allow light to enter the building while simultaneously absorbing its energy to reduce indoor cooling requirements. Another advantage of these panels is that the angle of inclination of light does not impact the performance of this system due to their translucent nature, which tackles a significant disadvantage of these systems. These examples are concrete proofs of how well-planned integration of BIPV can contribute to energy savings in unique ways.
Significance in Architecture
Just as an innovation in material contributes to a change in architectural language, technologies like BIPV have a similar impact. As seen in the case of Copenhagen International School, BIPV can completely alter the visual vocabulary of built forms. It ensures that harnessing the sun’s energy is no longer an afterthought and can be incorporated into designs at very early stages of conception. This also changes the outlook towards architecture, previously acting as an entity that is constantly consuming energy and leaving behind massive carbon footprints to one that actively contributes to the production of clean energy.
BIPV technologies harmoniously blend utility with visual aesthetics and thus have far-reaching applications in creating sustainable architecture. While currently pervasive, the high cost of this technology is set to decline as demands increase and hopefully become accessible in remote regions all across the world. BIPV has the potential to become a pivotal technology that ensures a method to tap into natural resources harmlessly while maintaining visual appeal.
Citations for Journal Articles accessed on a website or database:
Kurian, Jibi and Karthi, Lathi (2021).Building integrated photovoltaics- an overview, Sustainability, Agri, Food and Environmental Research Volume (10). Available from:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352894701_Building_integrated_photovoltaics-_an_overview [Accessed: 08 December 2024]
Citations for websites:
Hadizadeh, D. (2021). The Future Of Solar: Integrated Photovoltaics In The Building Envelope. Forbes. [online] 30 Nov. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinesscouncil/2021/11/30/the-future-of-solar-integrated-photovoltaics-in-the-building-envelope/.[Accessed 08 December 2024]
EnergySage. (2023). Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV): An Overview. [online] Available at: https://www.energysage.com/solar/solar-shingles/building-integrated-photovoltaics-bipv/. [Accessed 08 December 2024]
CNET. (n.d.). Tesla Solar Roof Review: A Sleek Look at a Stiff Price. [online] Available at: https://www.cnet.com/home/energy-and-utilities/tesla-solar-roof-is-the-sleekest-solar-option-your-best-one/#google_vignette. [Accessed 08 December 2024]
ArchDaily. (2017). Copenhagen International School Nordhavn / C.F. Møller. [online] Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/879152/copenhagen-international-school-nordhavn-cf-moller. [Accessed 10 December 2024]
TESLA (2024). Solarglass Roof | Tesla. [online] Tesla.com. Available at: https://www.tesla.com/solarroof. [Accessed 10 December 2024]
ArchDaily. (2014). SwissTech Convention Center / Richter Dahl Rocha & Associés. [online] Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/491135/richter-dahl-rocha-develop-innovative-facade-for-swisstech-convention-center. [Accessed 10 December 2024]
Idealwork: concrete finishes for internal and external use. (2023). Photovoltaic concrete: an innovation to be explored. – Ideal Work. [online] Available at: https://www.idealwork.com/photovoltaic-concrete-an-innovation-to-be-explored/ [Accessed 11 Dec. 2024].
