Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) is a technology that provides solar power generation capacity to a building without disrupting the aesthetics of the building design. The technology integrates photovoltaic (PV) modules into the skin of a building, replacing the façade and sloping/flat/curved roofs.
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Some BIPV applications include metal PV modules or solar tiles for roofs, aesthetically designed custom-sized PV modules for solar facades, PV windows to replace building glazing and PV skylights, and other PV retrofits integrated into the building skin.
Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) is an emerging technology with great potential to reduce the carbon footprint and electricity bills of buildings. bipv represents an economic benefit for buildings, but also implies high upfront costs compared to traditional facades.
There are several BIPV technologies available for building applications. Due to its natural insulating properties, BIPV can reduce the amount of energy required to operate a building.
These technologies can be used in a number of different ways for building applications. The four most common ways in which BIPV is used in build applications are
External walls
Windows and overhead glazing
Roofs
Sunshades
BIPV technology can produce more energy than conventional solar panels and requires less space.
Integrated photovoltaics are an environmentally friendly technology as they do not pollute the environment.Can help buildings to meet LEED, BREEAM and other green building certification standards.
The use of BIPV will have a positive impact on your organisation - if you use it in your building or company.
BIPV can be used in buildings as an alternative to traditional building materials, saving material costs and eliminating the need for additional land or space.BIPV materials can be customised in terms of colour, shape and transparency to meet the aesthetic needs of modern architecture, while also providing waterproofing, thermal and acoustic insulation.
Most BIPV products are available in the price range of 200€/m2 to 625€/m2.
The total cost of a BIPV system can be divided into two categories: hardware costs and soft costs. In this section we will explain the breakdown of costs for each category and sub-category.
Hardware costs
The hardware costs of a BIPV system include the physical (hardware) structure and electrical components required for the system and installation. This category is subdivided into two: BIPV modules and balance of systems (BOS).
BIPV modules
The cost of PV modules accounts for approximately 43% to 77% of the cost of a PV system. The main aspect that changes costs is the technology used for BIPV modules. The average price of a BIPV glass-glass module in Europe is around 120-250 euros per square metre, while the lowest price for a standard European glass-glass module can be as low as 95 euros per square metre. However, if you are looking for a unique solar external customised result, the price can be as high as €380/m2.
Balance of Systems (BOS)
The Balance of System (BOS) category includes hardware components that are not part of the BIPV module category, i.e. inverters, mounting components, storage systems and other hardware required for the installation. bOS components represent on average between 10% and 16% of the cost of a BIPV installation, but the cost of BOS components can increase depending on the complexity of the installation.
The inverter is a very important component in a BIPV installation. The cost depends on the technology chosen and varies between a central inverter (0.13€/W), a string inverter (0.17€/W) or a micro-inverter (0.35€/W).
The cost of the storage system is another expensive but important BOS component. The most recommended technology is lithium-ion batteries, which cost around €534/kWh, but prices are expected to fall to €202/W by .
Other BOS components include charge controllers, meters, cables, AC/DC isolators, etc. Little research has been done on the costs of these components for BIPV systems. Depending on the technology and quality of the installation hardware, prices may decrease for less demanding installations and conversely may increase.
Soft costs
Soft costs include any costs that do not translate into hardware components. Soft costs fall into the following categories: design, procurement, construction and installation, licensing, inspection, interconnection (PII) and disposal. These costs are highly site specific and vary from country to country/region to region. In this section we will explain each of them.
Design
The correct design of a BIPV system is the first stage of the process and this is one of the first costs to be considered. Design costs include conducting site surveys, carrying out preliminary design, preparing reports and other tasks required to design the system. For example, the design cost for a study case of an 11KW polycrystalline BIPV roofing system in Italy was 0.29€/watt.
Procurement
The procurement costs involved in BIPV systems include site visits, transport, contract negotiations, module storage space rental and similar costs in the process. On average, transport costs are expected to be 0.5-2% for standard solar PV modules and 1.5-8% of the PV module cost for customised solar modules. However, this may vary from region to region.
Construction and installation
Construction and installation is a significant cost of BIPV systems. While it is difficult to estimate their costs across Europe, these include skilled labour, supervision time, consultancy, health and safety contingency costs, and other costs associated with infrastructure construction and system installation.
Gain Solar has been committed to providing innovative Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) green materials that have been successfully applied to thousands of PV green buildings around the world, customising solutions for buildings from design to installation. If you are looking for a solution to integrate PV into your building, please contact us to speak with one of our experts!
Permitting, Inspection, Interconnection (PII)
The permitting, inspection and interconnection (PII) of BIPV systems represents significant soft costs that vary from country to country. the PII costs translate into the costs required to approve the installation, the time spent working to prepare the BIPV system for interconnection to the grid, site inspections and similar costs. A study case German installation sets the administrative cost at 0.01€/watt and other PII costs at 0.055€/watt.
Handling
Disposal costs are not always considered during the 30 to 50 year life cycle of a BIPV system. The costs in this category translate into the cost of dismantling, transporting and disposing (for recycling) the BIPV system. As BIPV technology is fairly new and most installations are in operation, these costs have not been extensively studied.
BIPV façade costs
Estimated costs for BIPV facades depend on the type of BIPV product, with prices ranging from €200/m2 - €625/m2 and a payback period of 10 - 15 years in Europe, which exceeds that of inactive facades and term roofs, particularly as these options have no return on investment (ROI).
The average cost of a BIPV roof with integrated membrane BIPV system is 134€/m2.
The cost of a BIPV balcony is around €520/m2 and a sunshade is €800/m2.
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Prices for BIPV glass curtain walls range from €520/m2 to €1,120/m2.
O&M costs
Operation and maintenance (O&M) costs include both hardware and software costs, which is why we have separated this category from the others. the O&M costs for BIPVs include monitoring systems, maintenance components and other costs due to unforeseen circumstances such as vandalism, fire, extreme weather events, etc.
O&M costs are estimated at 0.5% of the initial investment, but this takes into account the ideal situation of having regular maintenance and operability. O&M costs will vary when considering mainstream PV plants, BIPV or rooftop (BAPV or solar roof tiles). With the use of O&M software, the efficiency and output of such solar power plants can be significantly increased. Not to mention the fact that maintenance is only triggered when such software indicates a need for such services, which ultimately reduces overall O&M costs.
Another cost to consider is the regular replacement of the inverters, which takes place every 15 years and represents 10% of the initial investment.
Overall, the cost of BIPV technology varies depending on the use case, for example, the total installed cost of installing a solar module of 3kW to 8kW can range from $9,255 to $28,000.
Solar panels are built to work in all climates, but in some cases, rooftops may not be suitable for solar systems due to age or tree cover. If there are trees near your home that create excessive shade on your roof, rooftop panels may not be the most ideal option. The size, shape, and slope of your roof are also important factors to consider. Typically, solar panels perform best on south-facing roofs with a slope between 15 and 40 degrees, though other roofs may be suitable too. You should also consider the age of your roof and how long until it will need replacement.
If a solar professional determines that your roof is not suitable for solar, or you don’t own your home, you can still benefit from solar energy. Community solar allows multiple people to benefit from a single, shared solar array that can be installed on- or off-site. Costs associated with purchasing and installing a solar energy system are divided among all of the participants, who are able to buy into the shared system at a level that best fits their budget. Learn more about community solar.
Those interested in community solar can take advantage of a tool from SETO awardee EnergySage. The company's Community Solar Marketplace aggregates the many available options in one place and standardizes project information, allowing interested consumers to easily locate and compare multiple community solar projects in their area.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) developed a tool called PVWatts for this purpose. It estimates the energy production and cost of energy of grid-connected PV energy systems for any address in the world. It allows homeowners, small building owners, installers, and manufacturers to easily develop estimates of the performance of potential PV installations, and can even compare solar’s cost to utility bills. These tools are great for getting started, but make sure to work with a solar installer for a custom estimate of how much power your solar energy system is likely to generate.
For its analyses, NREL uses an average system size of 7.15 kilowatts direct-current with a 3-11 kilowatt range. According to SETO awardee EnergySage, that’s enough power to meet all the energy needs for an average home in Austin, Texas.
There are a number of mapping services that have been developed by SETO awardees that will help you determine if your roof is suitable for solar and can even provide you with quotes from pre-screened solar providers in your area. In addition to those resources, an internet search can help you find local companies that install solar panels. Because you will likely have many options to choose from, it’s important to thoroughly read reviews of solar companies to make sure you are selecting the best fit for you and your home.
Solar co-ops and Solarize campaigns can also help you start the process of going solar. These programs work by allowing groups of homeowners to work together to collectively negotiate rates, select an installer, and create additional community interest in solar through a limited-time offer to join the campaign. Ultimately, as the number of residents who participate in the program increase, the cost of the installations will decrease.
Most people going solar have a positive experience. But like other fast-growing industries, the rampant expansion of solar energy has opened the door to a small subset of bad actors.
Our Smart Shopping Tips for Solar outlines a few ways to identify red flags as you go solar:
On August 7, , the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a consumer advisory to help you identify potential consumer solar scams and file complaints about suspicious behavior. Before you sign any documentation with a solar company, carefully review these educational materials:
Net metering is an arrangement between solar energy system owners and utilities in which the system owners are compensated for any solar power generation that is exported to the electricity grid. The name derives from the s, when the electric meter simply ran backwards when power was being exported, but it is rarely that simple today. Whether or not your solar system qualifies for net metering payments depends on policies and practices in your state and electric utility. Your local electric utility would be a good place to source information on net metering in your service area. When researching net metering policies and practices in your service area, there are some basic questions to consider, such as availability in your service area, eligible system size and customer type, rates, and design of bill credits.
Storage refers to energy storage, most often in the form of batteries. Installing energy storage with a solar system can help utilize the power generated when it’s needed most, regardless of whether it’s sunny outside at the time. Storage allows you to save that energy and use it later in the day, like when you turn the heat on at night or run the dishwasher after dinner or even when the power goes out. Ask your solar installer if they offer battery storage options and learn more about storing solar energy.
The amount of money you can save with solar depends upon how much electricity you consume, the size of your solar energy system, if you choose to buy or lease your system, and how much power it is able to generate given the direction your roof faces and how much sunlight hits it. Your savings also depend on the electricity rates set by your utility and how much the utility will compensate you for the excess solar energy you send back to the grid. Check the National Utility Rate Database to see current electricity rates in your area.
In some cities around the country, solar is already cost competitive with the electricity sold by your local utility. The cost of going solar has dropped every year since , a trend researchers expect to continue. Not only are the prices of panels dropping, so are the costs associated with installation, such as permitting and inspection—also known as “soft costs.” All of SETO's funding programs are working toward improving the affordability of solar and making it easier for consumers to choose solar.
It should also be noted that energy efficiency upgrades complement solar energy economically. By using Energy Star appliances and other products in your home, you’ll need less solar energy to power your home.
Consumers have different financial options to select from when deciding to go solar. In general, a purchased solar system can be installed at a lower total cost than system installed using a solar loan, lease, or power purchase agreement (PPA).
If you prefer to buy your solar energy system, solar loans can lower the up-front costs of the system. In most cases, monthly loan payments are smaller than a typical energy bill, which will help you save money from the start. Solar loans function the same way as home improvement loans, and some jurisdictions will offer subsidized solar energy loans with below-market interest rates, making solar even more affordable. New homeowners can add solar as part of their mortgage with loans available through the Federal Housing Administration and Fannie Mae, which allow borrowers to include financing for home improvements in the home’s purchase price. Buying a solar energy system makes you eligible for the Solar Investment Tax Credit, or ITC. In December , Congress passed an extension of the ITC, which provides a 26% tax credit for systems installed in -, and 22% for systems installed in . The tax credit expires starting in unless Congress renews it. Learn more about the ITC.
Solar leases and PPAs allow consumers to host solar energy systems that are owned by solar companies and purchase back the electricity generated. Consumers enter into agreements that allow them to have lower electricity bills without monthly loan payments. In many cases, that means putting no money down to go solar. Solar leases entail fixed monthly payments that are calculated using the estimated amount of electricity the system will produce. With a solar PPA, consumers agree to purchase the power generated by the system at a set price per kilowatt-hour of electricity produced. With both of these options, though, you are not entitled to tax benefits since you don’t own the solar energy system.
Navigating the landscape of solar financing can be difficult. The Clean Energy States Alliance released a guide to help homeowners understand their options, explaining the advantages and disadvantages of each. Download the guide.
DSIRE is the most comprehensive source of information on incentives and policies that support renewable energy in the United States. It is operated by the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center at N.C. State University and was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. By entering your zip code, DSIRE provides you with a comprehensive list of financial incentives and regulatory policies that apply to your home. Additionally, an experienced local installer should be able to assist you in claiming any state and local incentives, as well as the ITC.
If you want to learn more about state and federal solar policies regarding incentives and tax breaks, the Solar Power in Your Community guidebook (PDF) has a section—Appendix A on page 87—that explains it in detail.
Buying a solar energy system will likely increase your home’s value. A recent study found that solar panels are viewed as upgrades, just like a renovated kitchen or a finished basement, and home buyers across the country have been willing to pay a premium of about $15,000 for a home with an average-sized solar array. Additionally, there is evidence homes with solar panels sell faster than those without. In , California homes with energy efficient features and PV were found to sell faster than homes that consume more energy. Keep in mind, these studies focused on homeowner-owned solar arrays.
When it comes to third-party owned (TPO) systems, data shows that while they add some complexity to the real estate transaction, the overall impacts in terms of sales price, time on market, agreement transfers, and customer satisfaction are mostly neutral. In some cases, TPO systems can even add value.
The PV Value® tool is helpful for both home sellers and homebuyers. It calculates the energy production value for a PV system and is compliant with Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice and has been endorsed by the Appraisal Institute for the income approach method. Make sure your appraiser uses this tool to get the most accurate estimate of your PV system’s value.
There are two primary technologies that can harness the sun’s power and turn it into electricity. The first is the one you’re likely most familiar with – photovoltaics, or PV. These are the panels you’ve seen on rooftops or in fields. When the sun shines onto a solar panel, photons from the sunlight are absorbed by the cells in the panel, which creates an electric field across the layers and causes electricity to flow. Learn more about how PV works.
The second technology is concentrating solar power, or CSP. It is used primarily in very large power plants and is not appropriate for residential use. This technology uses mirrors to reflect and concentrate sunlight onto receivers that collect solar energy and convert it to heat, which can then be used to produce electricity. Learn more about how CSP works.
Absolutely! All solar panels meet international inspection and testing standards, and a qualified installer will install them to meet local building, fire, and electrical codes. Also, your solar energy system will undergo a thorough inspection from a certified electrician as part of the installation process.
A working PV panel has a strong encapsulant that prevents chemicals from leaching, similar to how defroster elements are sealed in a car windshield. Occasionally, a solar panel may break due to weather or other events. According to the International Energy Agency Photovoltaic Power Systems Technology Collaboration Program, any lead and cadmium exposure from broken solar panels in residential, commercial, and utility-scale systems would be below the acceptable limit set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for soil, air, and groundwater.
Residential Consumer Guide to Solar Power – In an effort to make going solar as effortless and streamlined as possible, the Solar Energy Industries Association developed this guide to inform potential solar customers about the financing options available, contracting terms to be aware of, and other useful tips.
A Homeowner’s Guide to Solar Financing: Leases, Loans and PPAs – This guide from the Clean Energy States Alliance helps homeowners navigate the complex landscape of residential solar system financing. It describes three popular residential solar financing choices and explains the advantages and disadvantages of each, as well as how they compare to a direct cash purchase.
Solar PV Project Financing: Regulatory and Legislative Challenges for Third-Party PPA System Owners– Third-party owned solar arrays allow a developer to build and own a PV system on a customer’s property and sell the power back to the customer. While this can eliminate many of the up-front costs of going solar, third-party electricity sales face regulatory and legislative challenges in some states and jurisdictions. This report details the challenges and explains alternatives.
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: Encouraging Solar Development through Community Association Policies and Processes – This guide, written for association boards of directors and architectural review committees, discusses the advantages of solar energy and examines the elements of state solar rights provisions designed to protect homeowner access to these benefits. It then presents a number of recommendations associations can use to help bring solar to their communities.
Selling into the Sun: Price Premium Analysis of a Multi-State Dataset of Solar Homes – This report from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory finds that home buyers are consistently willing to pay premiums of approximately $15,000 for homes that have solar across various states, housing and PV markets, and home types.
Residential Solar-Adopter Income and Demographic Trends – This report from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory finds that while solar adoption skews toward high-income households, low- and moderate-income households are also adopting, and that the rooftop solar market is becoming more equitable over time.
Learn more about the solar office's accomplishments.
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