A Brief Discussion of the Major Advantages of BIPV (Building-Integrated Photovoltaics)

With the increasing national requirements for building energy efficiency and the push for the early success of the dual-carbon goals, the photovoltaic industry is also constantly developing, giving rise to the "photovoltaic +" model. Among them, BIPV building-integrated photovoltaics is the most widely accepted approach. So what is BIPV? In fact, BIPV is a photovoltaic power station system that integrates solar panels into building facades, rooftops, and other parts, combining architectural aesthetics and functionality. With the increasing reliance on renewable energy and growing awareness of environmental protection, more and more buildings will adopt BIPV technology. Compared to the common form of adding photovoltaic panels directly to building rooftops (BAPV), BIPV integrates the building's own characteristics for unified design and construction, offering unparalleled advantages in safety, aesthetics, and convenience, and making subsequent maintenance more convenient.

1. Meets the lighting requirements of buildings

The most important aspect of a building is to meet its basic functions, and lighting is one of the most important living functions of a building. Using the BIPV method, exterior doors and windows, curtain walls, and skylights are made of photovoltaic glass. This means that the building's appearance remains unchanged while incorporating photovoltaic power generation functionality. It not only meets the building's lighting requirements but also integrates better with the building, making it safer.

2. Enables buildings to truly achieve zero energy consumption

Existing green building technologies can only reduce energy consumption for buildings, but they cannot enable buildings to generate their own energy. BIPV technology, while reducing energy consumption, can also generate electricity and produce clean energy, thus meeting the building's zero energy consumption and enabling buildings to truly achieve carbon neutrality.

3. Does not affect the appearance of the building

This is the most significant advantage of using cadmium telluride photovoltaic glass. When architecture and photovoltaics are combined, it creates a concept of green building and sustainable development. In BIPV buildings, cadmium telluride photovoltaic glass can achieve diversification of building materials. Various colors, sizes, and patterns of glass can be selected, and through system electrification and structural refinement, junction boxes, bypass diodes, and connecting wires are hidden in the building structure. This prevents sun exposure and rain erosion, reduces the risk of line aging, and does not affect the building's appearance, making it almost indistinguishable from ordinary glass.

4. High cost-effectiveness

Cost is an important factor to consider in building design. Compared to traditional buildings, the initial direct investment cost of photovoltaic products and their electrical systems is relatively high. However, photovoltaic buildings have a long-term power generation function and income. The investment can be recovered over the entire life cycle, and additional value-added income can be generated. Therefore, the cost of photovoltaic building materials needs to be considered comprehensively by taking into account the one-time direct investment cost and the investment returns over the entire life cycle. From the perspective of construction costs, the cost of photovoltaic buildings is dynamic and decreases over time as the cost is offset by power generation revenue, even to the point of zero or negative cost within the building's entire life cycle, meaning zero cost or profit; whereas ordinary buildings can only recover costs through depreciation. Therefore, photovoltaic buildings have the lowest cost.

5. Long service life

Except for components and some water drainage systems, other parts of the BIPV system are in a relatively well-sealed environment, resulting in a longer lifespan than conventional color-coated steel tile roofs. Because BIPV systems must be combined with building material properties, the construction process requires the use of water-repellent glass panels, main gutters, waterproof sealing, etc., to form a roof drainage system, minimizing the risk of water leakage throughout the service life.