Your daily dose of photovoltaic technology developments and solar news
Design-BuildSolar
Design-BuildSolar will be the first, groundbreaking, global initiative to address barriers that presently exist between solar technology and real-world BIPV application, to enable architects, building contractors, design engineers, module manufacturers, regulators and governments to come together to realise the BIPV market.
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Case Studies
Blood, sweat, and tears: Global Solar’s Jeff Britt starts to see fruits of his CIGS labors pay off
There’s only a handful of industry veterans who have invested as much blood, sweat, tears, and time into the development of flexible thin-film solar photovoltaics as Jeff Britt. He joined Global Solar Energy in 1998, when the company’s copper-indium-gallium-(di)selenide technology was an R&D project, and any product commercialization years away.
News
Sanyo installs two BIPV solar parking lots in Setagaya, Tokyo
Sanyo Electric has completed the installation of two 'solar parking lots,' incorporating solar panels and lithium-ion battery systems, as well as providing 100 Sanyo developed electric hybrid bicycles named 'eneloop bike,' in Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan. The power generated by the solar panels installed on the roof is stored to recharge the 100 electric hybrid bicycle batteries and illuminate the parking lot using LEDs at night.
Read more >>Pilkington North America joins Dyesol in BIPV development
Pilkington North America, based in Toledo, Ohio, will collaborate with Dyesol to develop opportunities in the building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) market. The partnership will utilize Pilkington's TEC series of transparent conductive oxide (TCO) coated float glass and Dyesol's dye solar cell (DSC) materials and technology.
NREL says Global Solar first to exceed 13% efficiencies for CIGS on flex stainless-steel substrate
In the latest example of increasing CIGS conversion efficiencies, the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory has confirmed that Global Solar Energy has achieved 13.2% aperture-area efficiency on a thin-film photovoltaic module integrated with flexible cell-strings from its copper-indium-gallium-(di)selenide production line in Tucson, AZ. CEO Jeff Britt told PV Tech that median efficiencies have risen above 11% on the production line and that the company plans to launch its BIPV product line this year. The latest numbers exceed the company's efficiencies announced in September 2009, when NREL said it had measured 15.45% total area conversion efficiencies for the individual cells, and Global Solar had cited record peak efficiencies at the time of 11.7% on its flexible stainless-steel cell strings and median efficiencies between 10 and 11%.
Order Focus: SolarFrameWorks to supply BIPV roof components to Johns Manville
Johns Manville (JM) has reached an agreement with SolarFrameWorks that will see the latter supply its proprietary BIPV CoolPly solar roofing components to JM, who will market these products through its JM E3 Company.
Mario Botta designed building integrates flexible thin film solar laminates into retractable roof
Italian architectural firm Mario Botta has used 80 UNI-SOLAR PVL-136 thin film laminates from United Solar Ovonic (USO), a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Conversion Devices as part of newly completed building design in Piazza San Lorenzo, Italy. The flexible light weight laminates are part of an ‘EnerCover’ building integrated solution provided by Ondulit Italiana SpA.The building uses a retractable curved rooftop with an output 10,88Kw.
Frost & Sullivan ‘2009 BIPV niche player of the year award’ goes to AES
The Frost & Sullivan '2009 world building-integrated photovoltaic niche player of the year award', has been presented to Atlantis Energy Systems (AES), for its range of BIPV products.
Technical Papers
The development and the prospects of BIPV systems in Italy
The current feed-in tariff (FiT) scheme in Italy has so far resulted in a total installed PV capacity just above 760MWp (925MWp considering also the first FiT). The majority of those installations (71%) are building-adapted (BAPV) or buildingintegrated (BIPV) thanks to the higher incentives provided compared to non-integrated ground-mounted plants. Moreover, there are special premiums on top of the basic FiT, such as when asbestos roofings are replaced with PV modules. On the one hand, this makes the Italian PV market very attractive for those players specialized in roof applications, while on the other, it represents an opportunity and a strong motivation for both the installers and the manufacturers to explore innovative and standardized BIPV solutions and materials. Will this trend continue in the years to come?
The rise of building-integrated photovoltaics: policy construction begins
Building-integrated photovoltaics or BIPV is one form of solar electricity that looks set to dominate the solar market in the coming years. The increase in BIPV installations is already evident in some European countries as governments begin to tweak their policies in order to provide a platform for this technology. The past few months have seen countries such as France and Italy make efforts to up the installation rate of this integrated form of solar, increasing the feed-in tariff (FiT) rate quite substantially for BIPV and lowering it for the more common installations such as roof and ground-mounted systems in order to increase the uptake. This BIPV-dedicated section will focus on the new policies implemented in France and Italy, concentrating on France's policies as a blueprint for others. It will provide a focus on why governments are so keen to increase incentives in favour of BIPV and what the future implications of this market shift will be.
Product Briefings
3S Swiss Solar Systems updates MegaSlate Solar roof system
Product Briefing Outline: The MegaSlate Solar roof system from 3S Swiss Solar Systems is a pioneering, architecturally aesthetic BIPV concept designed for new builds and roof retrofits. The latest version of this technology enables an integrated, energy-producing roofing system which combines PV with solar heat - meaning home owners can produce electricity with the panels and warm up used water to support their heating systems. This product is certified by the TÜV, tested for wind and snow load, as well as for resistance to hail, offering optimal weather protection.
New Product: Canadian Solar introduces BIPV module line
Product Briefing Outline: Canadian Solar BIPV modules use double low iron tempered glass with solar cells laminated in between, making them ideal for roofs, skylights and/or facades. The modules use double low iron tempered glass with solar cells laminated in between, this means that the fundamental ideal of building material to generate electrical power is now a reality. With a 55W-115W/m2 output depending on cell spacing; the cells are made up of crystalline (mono or poly 125mm/ 156mm).
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