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Application of BIPV modules: diversified practice of transforming building skin into green power sta

time:2025-07-01
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  Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) modules surpass the traditional role of photovoltaics as "additional" power generation equipment, seamlessly integrating the power generation function into the building envelope itself, becoming an innovative building material that combines energy production, building functionality, and aesthetic expression. Its application is moving from demonstration projects to scale, profoundly changing the relationship between buildings and energy.

  1、 Core application area: Energy conversion of building envelope structures

  1. Photovoltaic roof system:

  Photovoltaic replaces traditional roofing materials: As the surface of buildings that directly receives solar radiation, roofs are the core application scenario of BIPV.

  Guangfu tile/Guangfu tile: directly replaces traditional ceramic tiles, cement tiles, and metal tiles, maintaining the integrity of the roof and slope drainage function, suitable for sloping roof residences, villas, and antique buildings.

  Photovoltaic metal roof: It integrates photovoltaics with metal substrates of the same quality as building metal roofs (upright lock edge, plate rib type) to form a large-area, high-strength waterproof power generation layer, which is widely used in industrial plants, large commercial buildings, stations, and airport terminals.

  Photovoltaic skylight/skylight: applied to the top of building atria, corridors, and canopies, providing natural lighting while generating electricity. You can choose transparent components to balance light transmittance and power generation efficiency.

  Value: Maximizing the use of rooftop space for power generation, significantly reducing building energy consumption; Replace traditional building materials and save material costs; Enhance the sense of architectural technology and sustainable image.

  2. Photovoltaic curtain wall system:

  Energy art of building facades: using BIPV modules as the main or partial constituent elements of building facades or interiors.

  Non transparent curtain wall: applied to the exterior walls of building solid walls, podiums, and equipment rooms, as a high-performance and decorative power generation exterior wall panel.

  Transparent/semi transparent curtain wall: using crystal silicon spacing arrangement, thin-film photovoltaics or special packaging technology to achieve different light transmittance (10% -50%+), applied to office building glass curtain walls, windows, and lighting strips. Light passing through components produces unique light and shadow effects, enhancing the aesthetic of architecture.

  Double layer photovoltaic curtain wall/photovoltaic ventilation curtain wall: BIPV is used as the outer layer to form an air gap. Airflow carries away heat, reduces component temperature, improves power generation efficiency, and enhances building insulation performance (in winter) and natural ventilation (in summer).

  Value: endowing building facades with dynamic power generation capabilities; Provide additional building physical properties such as shading, insulation, and sound insulation; Create a unique and modern visual identity.

  3. Photovoltaic shading and ancillary components:

  Active shading power generation: Integrating the power generation function into building shading design.

  Photovoltaic external sunshade/louver: installed on the outside of windows and glass curtain walls, with adjustable or fixed angles, effectively blocking direct sunlight, reducing air conditioning load, and generating electricity. Suitable for south facing and west facing facades.

  Photovoltaic canopy/carport/bus stop ceiling: provides shading and rain protection space for pedestrians and vehicles, with integrated photovoltaic power generation on the top. Widely used in residential communities, commercial squares, parking lots, and public transportation stations.

  Photovoltaic balcony railing/guardrail: Integrate photovoltaics into the balcony safety enclosure structure, fully utilizing the vertical surface of the building.

  Value: One item for multiple uses, saving space; Significantly improve indoor thermal comfort and lighting environment; Generate clean electricity.

  2、 Application value: multiple benefits beyond power generation

  1. The core lever of green building and carbon neutrality:

  On site production of renewable energy: directly providing electricity for building operation, reducing dependence on the power grid and carbon emissions, is a key technological path to achieving "near zero energy buildings" and "capacity buildings".

  Reduce carbon emissions throughout the entire lifecycle of buildings: offset carbon emissions from building material production and operation, and help the construction industry achieve its "dual carbon" goals.

  Obtaining green building certification bonus points: In LEED, BREEAM, China Green Building Evaluation Standards and other systems, the application of BIPV is an important way to obtain high scores.

  2. Long term manifestation of economic benefits:

  Save electricity expenses: self use and reduce the amount of electricity purchased from the power grid; Surplus electricity can generate electricity sales revenue when connected to the internet.

  Save traditional building material costs: BIPV modules, as roof and curtain wall materials, directly replace the procurement and installation costs of traditional building materials (partially offsetting the incremental costs of photovoltaic systems).

  Enhancing the value of building assets: Buildings with power generation capabilities, low operating costs, and green labels are more attractive to tenants and buyers, with higher market value and rental potential.

  Potential carbon trading benefits: In the future, with the improvement of the carbon market, building emission reductions may bring additional benefits.

  3. Innovation of Architectural Aesthetics and Urban Landscape:

  Improved design freedom: BIPV modules can be customized with colors (black, blue, colored glaze), textures (imitation stone, metal, wood grain), light transmittance, and shapes (irregular) to meet the diverse design needs of architects.

  Sense of Technology and Sustainable Image: Visually showcasing the green and innovative concepts of architecture, enhancing corporate social responsibility image and urban modernization style.

  Invisible energy production: Compared to bracket mounted photovoltaics, BIPV integrates seamlessly with buildings without destroying their original style, especially suitable for historical preservation areas or areas with high landscape requirements.

  4. Enhance building performance and durability:

  Weather resistance and protection: High quality BIPV modules have excellent wind pressure resistance, hail resistance, waterproofing, and fire resistance (meeting building material specifications), providing superior protection as building envelope structures compared to traditional materials.

  Thermal insulation: Especially for double glass components and curtain wall systems, it can effectively reduce indoor and outdoor heat exchange and improve the thermal performance of building envelope structures.

  Sound insulation and noise reduction: The structure of photovoltaic modules helps to absorb and block external noise.

  3、 Application considerations and core challenges

  1. Technology integration and engineering complexity:

  Customized design: It is necessary to deeply integrate architectural design and photovoltaic design in the early stages of the project, considering component size, electrical performance matching, wiring path, and building node treatment (waterproofing, insulation, structural connection).

  Structural safety: Accurate calculation of wind load, snow load, earthquake load, and component self weight is required to ensure structural safety and reliability, in compliance with building codes.

  Electrical safety: As a building component, electrical safety requirements are extremely high, requiring careful design of measures to prevent electric shock, fire, and lightning strikes to meet building electrical standards.

  Thermal management: The working temperature rise of components affects power generation efficiency and building thermal environment, and the design of heat dissipation channels (especially curtain walls) needs to be considered.

  2. Balance of cost and economy:

  High initial investment: Compared to the combination of traditional building materials and bracket mounted photovoltaics, high-quality BIPV systems typically have higher initial costs (customization, special processes, certification fees).

  Whole life cycle cost analysis: It is necessary to comprehensively consider factors such as saved building materials costs, reduced operating energy consumption costs, power generation benefits, maintenance costs, asset appreciation, etc. Its economic advantages often manifest in long-term use.

  Policy incentive dependence: Subsidies, tax incentives, green credit and other policies are crucial for promoting the large-scale application of BIPV.

  3. Standard specifications and quality assurance:

  Double standard integration: BIPV needs to meet both photovoltaic module standards (IEC 61215, IEC 61730) and building material standards (structure, fire protection, safety, durability).

  Reliability and life verification: as a non detachable building material, its 25 year+long-term reliability, anti-aging (damp heat, UV, wind sand), and ease of maintenance and replacement are core challenges.

  Strict quality control: Each link of production, transportation, and installation must be strictly controlled to ensure the final integrated quality. The BIPV module IV tester conducts strict electrical performance testing (power calibration, curve shape diagnosis) on the components after leaving the factory, entering the site, and installation, which is a key link to ensure that their power generation performance meets expectations and identify potential defects. Conclusion: Future prospects of integrated building energy

  The application of BIPV modules marks a revolutionary shift in photovoltaic technology from being installed on buildings to being the building itself. It endows buildings with the ability to actively produce clean energy, while achieving building functions such as shelter from wind and rain, lighting, insulation, and aesthetics, becoming an important distributed node in the urban energy network. Despite facing challenges in terms of cost, standards, and integration complexity, its enormous potential in promoting green transformation of buildings, assisting carbon neutrality, and enhancing the overall value of buildings is beyond doubt. With the continuous advancement of technology, the continuous decrease of costs, the increasingly perfect standards, and the strengthening of policy support, BIPV will inevitably move from avant-garde application to popularization, reshape the future appearance of buildings, and build a more sustainable living environment and energy ecology. The BIPV module IV tester, as the "gatekeeper" of its performance and quality, will play an indispensable role in ensuring this process.

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