Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) is currently an expansive market. However, despite a favorable framework, it is a fact that estimations of BIPV market growth have been overestimated in the past few years. A series of demands from the stakeholders which have not been properly addressed by the BIPV value chain are the main cause for this deviation. These key requirements are mainly related to the flexibility in design and aesthetics considerations, lack of tools integrating PV and building performance assisting the design phase, demonstration of long-term reliability of the technology, compliance with legal regulations and cost effectiveness.
The main objective of PVSITES project is to pave the way towards a large market deployment of BIPV technology by demonstrating an ambitious portfolio of building-integrated solar technologies and systems. The project activities are focused on providing a forceful, reliable answer to the market requirements identified by the industrial members of the consortium in their day-to-day activity.
In order to achieve this significant outcome, PVSITES project envisaged a series of economic, social, technical objectives, whose achievement would lead BIPV technology to a better market conditions and higher deployment. After four and a half years of intense work, the consortium is proud to share that most of these objectives have been reached and successful implementation of some of the products have been a reality even before the project ended.
MARKET & BUSINESS: to overcome BIPV market barriers with an ambitious set of BIPV generation and management solutions and (2) to take EU industrial companies to a leading position in the BIPV market.
ECONOMIC: Compliance with strict cost-effectiveness and performance targets.
TECHNICAL: to demonstrate (from TRL 5 to TRL6, 7) a wide portfolio of BIPV solutions based on (1) crystalline silicon (2)flexible CIGS thin film (3) grid interface solutions, (4) advanced building energy management system (5) SW tool to simulate BIPV components and building energy performance.
DEMONSTRATION: BIPV systems and related BIPV business models in 7 representative buildings across Europe plus experimental buildings and outdoor test benches, covering different climates, building uses, architectural implementations and energy management models.
ENVIRONMENTAL: A LCA analysis was carried out at product level by technology, specifically for crystalline Si and CIGS modules.
SOCIAL: increasing the awareness and involvement within the whole social & industrial chain.
