In WP2, we enhance the adoption of BIPV by addressing critical non-technical barriers, including financial, liability, and regulatory challenges. By providing strategic guidance and analyzing viable business models that align with other envelope technologies such as fenestration and green roofs, the project maximizes spatial, economic, and environmental benefits. Aesthetic evaluations and circular design methods further promote BIPV acceptance and sustainability.
The project illustrates how innovative financing and public-private partnerships can unlock additional value, such as increased property value and improved Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance. Case studies demonstrate that aesthetics, collaboration, and integrated building design are vital for success, emphasizing the need for coordinated action among policymakers, investors, and industry stakeholders.
A parametric simulation workflow has been introduced to balance PV performance with daylighting and heat transfer, enabling designers to optimize surface use for both energy efficiency and comfort. Additionally, simulations of the physical interactions between PV and green roofs support informed design decisions. A Grasshopper plugin allow realistic visualization of BIPV systems, fostering improved stakeholder engagement.
Furthermore, the Madaster platform has been enhanced with a track-and-trace tool, digital product passport, and circularity tools specifically designed for BIPV, all of which align with upcoming EU regulations and are currently being validated in collaboration with SUPSI.
In WP3, we develop technological solutions that facilitate the integration of PV into buildings and infrastructure. We are enhancing the functionality of existing products and technologies. Although the cost of PV modules has decreased, installation and maintenance remain expensive due to the complexity of the installation process and the need for professional expertise. To make PV installations more attractive, partners are upgrading these technologies with new functionalities. For example, CID is developing easy-maintenance solutions, such as anti-soiling coatings for PV modules, which reduce maintenance costs. TPS is enhancing the Click&Go mounting system for faster installation and removal of modules.
We also address the production costs of BIPV technologies. While IPV modules offer numerous benefits, their cost is a significant barrier to widespread adoption. OES has developed a cost-effective solution for installing PV on green roofs without the need for ballasts. Additionally, IWIN is focused on reducing technology costs in the manufacturing process, which typically requires substantial capital investment in machinery and incurs high labor and energy expenses.
Additionally, we develop PV modules that are suitable for integration into noise barriers, creating aesthetically appealing structures that blend with their surroundings and reduce the need for additional land for solar panels.
In WP4, we enhance the deployment of IPV through advanced digital tools that streamline projects from design to operation and maintenance. To maximize the impact of these developments, several key achievements have been made during the first reporting period.
Firstly, methods have been created to ensure compatibility with widely used building design and information modeling tools. The automatic and optimized interconnection of PV modules, developed in task 4.1 has been implemented as a plug-in for the Rhino-Grasshopper building design tool. In task 4.2 the BIPV.world platform functions as a plug-in for the BIM tool Autodesk-Revit and integrates with Microsoft Business Central, while BIMSOLAR® has enhanced its interoperability with open urban data sources.
Additionally, to engage diverse sectors, the Home Energy Management System (HEMS) developed in task 4.3 addresses the challenge of forecasting residential building consumption by reducing time resolution and creating a scoring system that promotes a conservative scheduling approach in unpredictable scenarios.
Finally, the interface of the BIPV digital twin, developed in task 4.4 is being improved to provide maintenance guidance for end users without expert knowledge of PV technologies. ENERBIM and TECNALIA are currently in discussions with a Spanish monitoring platform developer to establish a partnership for the joint deployment of this innovation.
