BIPV4ALL makes significant strides in breakthrough of integrated solar panels

Renewable energy sources are crucial tools in achieving ambitious and necessary climate goals. BIPV or Building-Integrated PhotoVoltaics is an application that can play a significant role in this transition. Moreover, it is an application with plenty of room for growth as the technology faces various challenges.

In 2020, the imec.icon research project BIPV4ALL started with financial support from VLAIO. Project partners VK architects+engineers, part of Sweco, VdS Weaving, IPTE Factory Automation, Soltech NV, and AGC Mirodan Bouwglass engaged in multidisciplinary and cross-sector research. The main objective: to make BIPV more widely applicable and affordable.

Four years later, the research team proudly presents the results.

Cost efficiency and design freedom

Several important steps have been taken, overcoming significant hurdles.

First, a digital workflow has been developed from design to almost automated production, from architect to manufacturing company. A digital platform provides architects with tools for simulations and optimizations of energy efficiency. Moreover, it automatically generates technical drawings that production facilities can use as construction instruction plans.

The platform offers architects many more aesthetic applications and custom designs. The workflow also reduces the design and assembly costs by up to 10%, lowers construction errors, and improves feasibility.

Better performance with partial shading

Secondly, new technologies have been researched to improve applicability and performance. A new glass color technology allows for more aesthetic applications, making BIPV almost invisibly integrated. An innovative concept improves the performance of BIPV so that it also yields results with partial shading.

Third, the production process of BIPV modules has been addressed. This reduces labor costs and dependency on certain operators, which in turn positively affects scalability.

We digitally connect design tools for BIPV design with the fabrication of the final project-specific BIPV module. This way, we create an automated workflow that enhances the architectural design possibilities of BIPV, while simultaneously optimizing the energy yield and the costs of the installation.

Maaike Berckmoes, team manager facade engineering Sweco

Facade engineering as an integrator

The facade engineer views BIPV as both an energy provider and a protective and aesthetic layer of a building. All components come together in this approach.

Maaike Berckmoes, team manager facade engineering at Sweco: “Facade engineering is at the intersection of the various requirements for a facade. This makes it challenging and, of course, very exciting.”

With her years of experience, Maaike and her team brought a lot of know-how to the table. Sweco also has many facade engineering use cases that proved very useful in the research.

A multidisciplinary team of Sweco experts in facade engineering, sustainable design, and digital engineering primarily contributed to the digitalization and optimization of BIPV design and production processes in the BIPV4ALL project. The emphasis was on the entire life cycle, from the early design stage to digital manufacturing to the O&M phase.