Discussion on Current Challenges Facing BIPV (Building-Integrated Photovoltaics)

In recent years, BIPV projects have seen unprecedented development. Photovoltaic building materials have also become increasingly diversified, with products such as transparent power-generating glass for building facades and rooftop sunrooms keeping pace with the times and exhibiting vibrant vitality. Despite the rapid development of the BIPV industry, it still faces several key challenges that hinder its growth.

In recent years, domestic companies such as China National Building Material Group and Longyan, leading in cadmium telluride power-generating glass, have leveraged their advantages to incorporate photovoltaic building materials into building exteriors. Applications such as simulated stone, colored facades, and simulated aluminum panels are becoming increasingly common, with improving technology and decreasing prices. Simultaneously, installation techniques for these applications are becoming increasingly mature, laying a solid foundation for future development. In addition, various industry and local standards regarding building photovoltaics are being continuously introduced, and policies mandating the installation of photovoltaics in new and renovated buildings provide strong support for the rapid and standardized development of the BIPV industry. Therefore, from the perspective of photovoltaic building materials and installation technology, these are no longer major obstacles to the development of the BIPV industry. Although BIPV has made significant progress, the industry is highly customized, which restricts the development of cadmium telluride technology. While customization provides companies with a wider moat and brand advantages, it also presents the following problems:Price is generally high:Customization leads to higher production costs for photovoltaic building materials, directly impacting the Price of BIPV projects and resulting in low investment returns. Growth is slower than expected: High barriers to entry, complex product production, and high design and technical requirements make it difficult to promote BIPV projects. Few companies and personnel involved: Requires expertise in both the construction and photovoltaic industries, and

an understanding of various BIPV applications, thus raising the industry barrier and limiting the number of companies and personnel entering the field.

Addressing these issues, it is clear that standardization is the direction for promoting the development of the BIPV industry. While ensuring the aesthetics, safety, and thermal insulation performance of projects, it is necessary to introduce more standardized photovoltaic building materials, such as photovoltaic tiles. The advantages of standard products mainly include: Significantly reduced costs: Standardized products can achieve mass production, reducing costs and improving the economic viability of BIPV projects. Simplified design and construction: Standardized products reduce design and construction difficulty, allowing more people to participate. Improved market competitiveness: Standardized products can meet the needs of more people, increasing market penetration.

Of course, to promote the standardized development of the BIPV industry, both the government and enterprises need to work together. The government needs to introduce more supportive policies to encourage the research and development and application of standardized products; enterprises should strengthen technological research and development and market promotion to improve the market competitiveness and user acceptance of standardized products. High customization is one of the main challenges facing the development of the BIPV industry today. By using standardization to guide the future development direction of the BIPV industry, costs can be reduced, design and construction can be simplified, market competitiveness can be improved, and the rapid development of the BIPV industry can be promoted.