Sweco Belgium
BIPV4ALL makes significant strides in breakthrough of integrated solar panels
Renewable energy sources are essential tools in achieving ambitious and much-needed climate goals. BIPV, or Building-Integrated Photovoltaics, is a technology that can play a significant role in this transition. Moreover, it is an application with substantial potential, as the technology still faces various challenges.
In 2020, the BIPV4ALL project was launched as an imec.icon research initiative, with financial support from VLAIO. Project partners VK architects+engineers, part of Sweco, VdS Weaving, IPTE Factory Automation, Soltech NV, and AGC Mirodan Bouwglass collaborated on a multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral research project. The primary objective: to make BIPV more widely applicable and affordable.
Four years later, the research team proudly presents the results.
Cost Efficiency and Design Freedom
Significant progress has been made, overcoming key obstacles. First, a digital workflow has been developed, covering the entire process from design to near-automated production, connecting architects to manufacturing firms. This digital platform provides architects with tools for simulations and energy yield optimizations. Additionally, it automatically generates technical drawings, which can be used by production facilities as construction instruction plans. The platform offers architects greater aesthetic flexibility and custom design options. More importantly, the workflow helps reduce design and assembly costs by up to 10%, minimizes construction errors, and improves feasibility.
Improved Performance Under Partial Shading
Secondly, new technologies have been explored to enhance applicability and performance. A new glass coloring technology enables more aesthetic applications, allowing BIPV to be integrated almost invisibly. Additionally, an innovative concept improves BIPV performance, ensuring efficient energy generation even under partial shading. Thirdly, the production process of BIPV modules has been optimized. This reduces labor costs and lessens dependency on specific operators, which in turn has a positive impact on scalability.
We digitally connect design tools for BIPV design with the manufacturing of the final project-specific BIPV module. This creates an automated workflow that enhances architectural design possibilities for BIPV while simultaneously optimizing energy yield and installation costs.
Maaike Berckmoes, team manager facade engineering Sweco
Facade Engineering as an Integrator
The facade engineer views BIPV as an energy provider, protective layer, and aesthetic shell of a building. This approach integrates all components into a unified system. Maaike Berckmoes, Team Manager Facade Engineering at Sweco, explains:
“Facade engineering sits at the crossroads of the diverse requirements placed on a building’s facade. This makes it both challenging and, of course, very exciting.” With her years of experience, Maaike and her team contributed valuable expertise to the project. Sweco also provided numerous facade engineering use cases, which proved highly beneficial in the research.
A multidisciplinary team of Sweco experts in facade engineering, sustainable design, and digital engineering played a key role in the BIPV4ALL project, focusing on the digitalization and optimization of BIPV design and production processes. The emphasis was on the entire lifecycle, from early design stages to digital manufacturing and the operations & maintenance (O&M) phase.