Abstract
The integration of photovoltaic (PV) generators in the envelope of a building by means of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) offers an immense potential, both in market development and the production of renewable electric energy that is close to the point of electricity consumption. In Germany, for example, by integrating photovoltaics in buildings up to 50% of the electricity demand can be covered. The political support of BIPV would contribute to the development and installation of BIPV components and therefore also promote the development of new business areas for industries dealing with components used in building envelopes and photovoltaic generators. BIPV can be separated into three different integration types: “technical”, “formal” and “technical & formal”. Political instruments for the support of PV-installations, particularly BIPV are discussed in this paper using Germany and France as examples. Due to successful financial support policies, PV became the most powerful electricity production technology in Germany. In France, the unique financial support of BIPV is resulting in an exemplary development and growth of certified BIPV components available on the market and, from a technical, aesthetic architectural and legal certainty point of view, facilitating the easy and widespread integration of photovoltaic generators in buildings.
Highlights
The integration of photovoltaic construction elements in buildings and other architectural structures is called building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV)
The case studies presented for PV and BIPV support policies in Germany and France act as “snapshots” of the current situation and challenge regarding the sound practices of specific support, and range from the general support of PV installations to the specific support of technically and formally building-integrated photovoltaics
While in Germany, the installation of BIPV receives no special feed-in tariff (FiT) compared with conventional PV, in France a remarkably higher FiT is guaranteed for electricity generated using technically integrated BIPV components
Summary
The integration of photovoltaic construction elements in buildings and other architectural structures is called building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). Energies 2013, 6 sector, the interest in BIPV up until now has been relatively small. 1% of the total distributed cumulative installed PV system capacity was integrated into buildings [1]. This section discusses the current state, the expected development, and as well the challenges for an increased installation and integration of PV in energy and electricity distribution systems for better understanding of the current state of the PV market and the future potential of BIPV. As discussed in the subsequent sections of this paper, an increase in the market for building integrated photovoltaics can be expected in the future. Approximately 102 gigawatt (GW) of cumulative photovoltaic capacity had been installed by the end of 2012 [2]. For 2013, the sector is expected to grow by another 18%
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