Building integrated solar - SolarPower Europe

Building-integrated solar

Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) is the technology that integrates solar elements into buildings to generate electricity. BIPV is extremely versatile: it can be applied to curved surfaces; they can be custom-made; they can be different colours or transparent so that they can be integrated into windows; and BIPV can even be made from flexible material. This wide variety of BIPV products will support energy consumers, as BIPV can adapt to the specific needs of customers.

The EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive requires all new buildings to be nearly zero-energy by the end of 2020. BIPV is crucial for the decarbonisation of the building stock in Europe. Today, buildings are responsible for 36% of the EU’s CO2 emissions, but buildings could supply 32% of the EU’s energy demand – if they used on-site generation installations, such as solar panels or building-integrated solar (BIPV).

Europe is a world leader in BIPV, with more than 200 products currently available on the market. The annual cumulated European installed capacity of BIPV is expected to surpass 11 GW by 2020.

The further development of the BIPV sector is very much linked to the evolution of the regulatory framework. Important pieces of European legislation have been discussed by the European Parliament and the Council including the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).

The adoption of the EPBD is an important step towards smarter and more sustainable buildings and its implementation will have a direct impact in the BIPV sector. Other legislative initiatives such as the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Directives should facilitate ambitious minimum requirements for the development of renewable energies in buildings and accelerate the renovation of Europe’s existing building stock.

Join SolarPower Europe’s BIPV Task Force

SolarPower Europe works to promote the development of BIPV technologies, advocating for an ambitious vision for the decarbonisation of the building stock while pushing the interests of the European BIPV industry.

If you are interested in joining this Task Force, contact Miguel Herrero Cangas

Objectives:

Establish direct contact with European institutions to highlight current significant gaps and the need for strengthened incentives for BIPV
Focus on industry and market development needs, taking an integrated approach over value chain, voice/expertise of the industry
Raising visibility and awareness about the potential of BIPV to help the decarbonization goals and renewable energy targets
Establish partnerships with cities, architects the construction and building sectors as well as other interested stakeholders.

Key activities and deliverables:

Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and Smart Readiness Indicator
Energy Efficiency Directive
Renewable Energy Directive
Ecodesign and energy labelling
Construction Products Regulation

"The time of smart and active buildings has come. As one of the key technologies for active energy generation, Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) will be essential for smart buildings and can turn buildings even energy positive"

David Müller

Global Head of Strategic Marketing PV at Merck and SolarPower Europe’s BIPV Task Force leader

Beautiful building-integrated solar across Europe:

Photos: Brynseng School in Oslo, Norway (©NCC), Copenhagen International School (© CF Møller)

'Solar Skins: An opportunity for greener cities'

This report from SolarPower Europe’s BIPV Task Force demonstrates how local authorities can benefit from BIPV technologies to decarbonise their building stock and how an increased uptake of BIPV could propel a promising European-based industry, delivering local and highly skilled jobs in the energy and construction sector.

webinar: What's next for bipv in Europe?

Resources

Press Releases

Global Solar Market Grows Over 29% in 2017 with even more to come in 2018

SolarPower Summit Opens in Brussels Announcing Another Strong Year for Solar With Double-Digit Growth SolarPower Europe presented its latest solar market data at the SolarPower

14/03/2018

Letters

It is time to enable the transition towards the building stock of tomorrow

To: EU Ministers of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council; European Commissioner in charge of Climate Action and Energy; European Parliament’s rapporteur in charge of

06/12/2017

Position Papers

Open Letter: It is time to enable the transition towards the building stock of tomorrow

Download open letter. Date: December 2017 Our associations represent millions of jobs in Europe and a wide range of business players which provide, implement and/or

01/12/2017

Downloads

Buildings generating renewable power

SolarPower Europe BIPV Task Force presentation at the European Parliament

WEBINAR: WHAT'S NEXT FOR BIPV IN EUROPE?

Thi webinar discusses what’s next for this promising sector, what the regulatory challenges are and how to foster synergies between BIPV companies and key players – architects, construction sector, smart cities.

EU Horizon prize for Integrated Photovoltaic Energy System

Horizon prize for Integrated Photovoltaic Energy System will reward a European protected historic urban district that has perfectly integrated in its buildings a photovoltaic system to generate and supply electricity for at least 50% of its required electricity consumption

Solar Powering Buildings: A New Age of Energy Producing Homes

The European Commission's “Clean Energy for All Europeans” package gives an important focus on buildings. Smart building management and on-site renewable generation are two sides of the same smart coin, enabling the EU to take a major step towards a smart energy transition for urban residents, as well as commercial buildings.