A product for covering facades that, in addition to generating energy from a solar source with high efficiency, provides an aesthetic filling that is perfectly integrated into buildings. This is the BIPV (Building Integrated Photovoltaics) solution.
According to Rogério Duarte, sales and marketing manager at Kromatix in Latin America, this technology, which integrates photovoltaic systems into the design and architecture of the most diverse buildings – such as roof coverings and curtains, for example – is being increasingly used.
“BIPV is the fastest growing market in the world. After all, if it is possible to generate energy with high performance, replacing passive facade coatings with active and aesthetic coatings that return the additional investment applied over time, why continue using passive facades?”, said Duarte.
“Buildings generally do not have enough roof area to install traditional photovoltaic panels and generate enough energy to serve the common area of the condominiums. However, the facades of these buildings represent an important area for this purpose. The BIPV solution transforms passive façade areas into active and aesthetically integrated areas”, highlighted the specialist.
BIPV market in Brazil
According to the executive, BIPV is a segment that has also been growing in Brazil. As an example, he cited some companies that already supply this type of material to the country, such as the Swiss company Kromatix, the Spanish company Onyx and the Brazilian company Sunew.
“At Kromatix, we provide high-performance colored solar glass for facade cladding. There is also Onyx, which offers transparent energy-generating glass. And Sunew, which develops OPV (Organic Photovoltaic Films) – a material with a lighter and semi-transparent composition, which can be applied as a coating on curved surfaces and on glass”, commented Duarte.
BIPV market abroad
Jinko Solar presented, during the SNEC 2020 fair – China's largest solar technology event – based in Shanghai, its first version of the colorful BIPV module series. With an output power of 550 W, this series of products comes in a variety of colors and translucency levels, incorporating modern architectural aesthetics for use as a building component.
Another launch was the “LONGi Roof”. The manufacturer designed the product to meet the needs of C&I roof systems, and after just over a year, the production line and design were finally commissioned. The solution is produced by LONGi Energy, a subsidiary of the LONGi Group.
BIPV Cases
In Brazil, there is a project to retrofit the Fortlev Solar facade in Vitória (ES). With 6 kWp of installed power, which represents 166 Wp/m², the gray Kromatix, in addition to providing an aesthetically integrated facade, has high generation performance.
“The interesting thing about this project is that it is an off-grid facade. All generation is distributed alongside the load and the surplus is stored in a battery for use during peak hours”, explained Rogério Duarte.
The project, located in Copenhagen, Denmark, next to the Copenhagen International Maritime School, has almost 7 thousand m². According to the expert, the installation was chosen by the Mother Nature Network website as one of the projects that will forever change architecture in the world. In total, there are 720 kWp that meets 60% of the school's energy demand.
The Student Experience Amsterdam, located in the Netherlands, has approximately 3 thousand m² of light gray Kromatix. According to the executive, the project has an installed capacity of 400 kWp.
