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Integrated thinking for photovoltaics in buildings

Nature Energy volume 3, pages 438–442 (2018)Cite this article

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Recent developments in photovoltaic technologies enable stimulating architectural integration into building façades and rooftops. Upcoming policies and a better coordination of all stakeholders will transform how we approach building-integrated photovoltaics and should lead to strong deployment.

In contrast, we argue that PV elements can become true raw building materials, like wood, concrete or glass, if their integration into buildings is taken into account from the early stages of the design process9,10. Only then can BIPV represent both an aesthetically attractive option for new construction or renovation projects and an option adapted to the specificities of urban contexts, characterized by strict limitations on construction. In this Comment, we analyse the hurdles faced by BIPV and show how emerging dynamics in policies, module design and stakeholder mindsets are starting to make strong market growth possible.

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Fig. 1: Predicted annual worldwide BIPV commercial market revenue.
Fig. 2: Common PV installations on rooftops.

Panther Media GmbH / Alamy Stock Photo (a), Shank_ali / E+ / Getty images (b)

Fig. 3: Examples of façade and roof demonstration projects with BIPV in Neuchâtel, Switzerland.

Thomas Jantscher (a,b), Patrick Heinstein (c,d)

Fig. 4: Best-practice examples of BIPV worldwide.

David Jackson / Alamy Stock Photo (a), TA images / Alamy Stock Photo (b), Patrick Heistein (c,d), Rene Schmid Architeken (e,f)

Fig. 5: Innovative transformative approaches in Switzerland.

CSEM (a), Olivier Wavre, LAST-EPFL (b)

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Acknowledgements

This comment is based in particular on projects supported by the National Research Program NRP 70 ‘Energy Turnaround’ of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Institute of Microengineering (IMT), Photovoltaics and Thin-Film Electronics Laboratory, Neuchâtel, Switzerland

    Christophe Ballif

  2. CSEM PV-center, Neuchâtel, Switzerland

    Christophe Ballif & Laure-Emmanuelle Perret-Aebi

  3. Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Laboratory of Architecture and Sustainable Technologies (LAST), Lausanne, Switzerland

    Sophie Lufkin & Emmanuel Rey

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  1. Christophe Ballif
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  2. Laure-Emmanuelle Perret-Aebi
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  3. Sophie Lufkin
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  4. Emmanuel Rey
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Correspondence to Christophe Ballif.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Ballif, C., Perret-Aebi, LE., Lufkin, S. et al. Integrated thinking for photovoltaics in buildings. Nat Energy 3, 438–442 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-018-0176-2

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