How can BIPV reshape future cities? When buildings put on "power-generating clothes"

How can BIPV reshape future cities? When buildings put on "power-generating clothes"

Imagine: your roof not only protects you from wind and rain, but also generates electricity for sale; windows can not only transmit light but also convert sunlight into electricity; even the exterior walls can become "green energy walls"... This is not science fiction, but the future that BIPV is realizing.

The building materials use cadmium telluride solar glass, and the building can even efficiently "capture" sunlight on rainy days, making energy production ubiquitous.

Image from: Jianghe Photovoltaic China Resources Bank BIPV curtain wall project

I. What is BIPV?

BIPV, or Building-Integrated Photovoltaics, combines photovoltaic components with building materials (such as roofs, glass, curtain walls, etc.) to achieve clean energy generation while meeting building functions. Among them, cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar glass, as an emerging technology, is becoming a new favorite in the BIPV field due to its advantages such as weak light power generation capability, adjustable light transmittance, and heat insulation. Compared with traditional photovoltaic power plants, BIPV does not require additional land occupation and can enhance the aesthetics of buildings. The International Energy Agency predicts that by 2030, BIPV will cover 30% of new buildings globally, with an annual power generation equivalent to twice that of the Three Gorges Dam!

II. Three Core Advantages of BIPV

01 Economic benefits: Self-generation and self-use, saving electricity costs. BIPV systems using cadmium telluride solar glass further shorten the investment return period due to their high photoelectric conversion efficiency.

02 Environmental benefits: BIPV, which is integrated with buildings, transforms the building's exterior surface into a clean energy generation system, achieving continuous carbon reduction during the building's operation phase. Cadmium telluride solar glass, with its low production energy consumption, high recycling rate, and significant carbon dioxide emission reduction capacity, has a recycling rate as high as 95%, a lower whole-life-cycle carbon footprint, and is green, environmentally friendly, and energy-efficient.

03 Enhanced building value: Improves the building's technological sense and green rating (such as LEED certification), attracting tenants and homebuyers. Cadmium telluride solar glass can be customized with light transmittance (10%-60%) to meet the building's lighting and privacy needs while maintaining efficient power generation, perfectly blending aesthetics and function.

Green energy generation: BIPV can directly convert solar energy into electricity on-site, eliminating the need for long-distance transmission, reducing energy loss, and producing no pollutant emissions, making it environmentally friendly.

Saving land and space: BIPV integrates photovoltaic components into the building's structure without occupying additional land space, making it particularly suitable for urban environments with limited land. In addition, BIPV can be installed on roofs, exterior walls, and other areas without affecting the existing building functions and aesthetics.

Building energy saving and carbon reduction: BIPV can reduce the building's reliance on the traditional power grid, lower energy consumption, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By reducing energy consumption, BIPV helps buildings achieve "net-zero emissions" goals and promote sustainable development.

III. Five Application Scenarios of BIPV

Photovoltaic roofs: Suitable for industrial plants and public buildings (such as schools and hospitals).

Photovoltaic curtain walls: "Power-generating exterior walls" for commercial buildings and landmark buildings.

Photovoltaic awnings: Multifunctional awnings for parking lots, bus stops, and balconies.

Photovoltaic paving stones: "Unbreakable power-generating floors" for squares and walkways.

Photovoltaic windows: Combining Low-E glass with photovoltaic technology, allowing for both light transmission and power generation.

BIPV is not only an energy revolution but also a new paradigm for the coexistence of buildings and nature. With the maturity of new material technologies such as cadmium telluride, the applicable scenarios and efficiency boundaries of BIPV are being continuously expanded. Curtain walls using cadmium telluride solar glass can achieve power generation simultaneously in low-sunshine areas, breaking geographical limitations. Even in hazy weather or during the early morning and evening weak light periods, cadmium telluride solar glass has a power generation efficiency 20% higher than traditional components.

Driven by policy guidance, technological innovation, and market expansion, BIPV is expected to become a "standard configuration" for green buildings before 2030, contributing 10%-15% of emission reductions to achieving carbon neutrality goals, bringing us closer to the carbon neutrality target.