BIPV gaining traction; Are you ready?

In a pilot project deployed in November 2010, the south-facing windows on the 56th floor of Chicago's Willis Tower were replaced with units that incorporate a building integrated photovoltaic solution from Pythagoras Solar, www.pythagoras-solar.com. The BIPV units have the potential to expand to a surface area allowing over two megawatts of solar power generation. Photo by Pythagoras Solar.

One of the most promising renewable energy options today is photovoltaics, a field of research and technology that focuses on converting solar energy directly into electricity. PV is a viable means of producing electricity onsite, directly from the sun, without concern for energy supply or environmental harm. Because of the growing demand for renewable energy sources, the manufacture of PV solar cells and panels has advanced dramatically in recent years, opening up opportunities for the entire glass industry, from float manufacturers, to glass fabricators, to glazing contractors.

PV panels are ground-mounted in solar fields and solar farms, or integrated into the walls and roofs of buildings as Building Integrated Photovoltaics. BIPV is a term for the design and integration of photovoltaics into the building envelope. BIPV panels typically replace conventional building materials such as vision glass, spandrel glass or other components in vertical facades. They can be integrated into curtain walls, window walls, sloped glazing, sunscreens and skylights, and generate energy at the point of consumption as an integral part of the building's façade in office buildings, hospitals, retail buildings, hotels, airports, educational facilities and more.

Opportunity knocks

In the glass industry, opportunity exists for float manufacturers to produce the low-iron glass used in solar panels and for glazing contractors to integrate and install BIPV panels. There is also potential for glass fabricators to produce custom solar panels for BIPV applications.

In the building envelope, PV is a natural fit for fenestration applications as it further enhances the functionality of the glass by creating a power source. While the addition of solar panels does add cost, it is still less expensive than building materials like granite, due to its dual functionality.

The PV industry generated $82 billion in global revenues in 2010, representing a 105 percent increase over 2009. Here in the States, the PV industry grew 96 percent in 2010. That growth will skyrocket in 2015, when the U.S. is expected to reach grid parity. Grid parity is the point at which photovoltaic electricity is equal to or cheaper than grid power from electric utilities. This has already been achieved in areas with abundant sun and high costs for electricity such as California and Hawaii.

The Department of Energy is also spurring PV adoption with its goal of having net-zero energy buildings for all new commercial structures by 2025. BIPV can contribute significantly to this goal, as any conventional glass application can be replaced with BIPV panels that have the same structural and thermal characteristics. This type of application can reduce the building's energy consumption down to net-zero, with the building producing at least as much energy as it uses.

The greatest challenge will be scaling up production, distribution and installation of solar energy technology to drive the total installed price down so that it's on par with traditional fossil fuel sources.

What does this mean for glaziers?

The glass and glazing industry is about to see BIPV really gain traction. Recently, one glass and glazing subcontractor bid six BIPV projects in one month, and this is only one example.

Including PV panels as part of a glass and fenestration product package offers significant sales potential for contract glaziers. The glass and glazing industy is capable of handling a full range of applications―from small to large BIPV installations―and many PV panels can be glazed directly into the fenestration products without any modification to either product.

While BIPV will be a significant profit opportunity for the glass and glazing industry, there are reasons for serious concern, however:

• Within the BIPV segment of the photovoltaics industry, there appears to be a disconnect between the PV panel manufacturers and glass/fenestration product manufacturers. The integration of these product offerings should be a natural occurrence; however, each seems to be operating independently of the other when this should be a classic win/win situation.
• Integrating PV panels into curtain walls, windows walls, skylights and other related products should be an easy undertaking; however, the PV industry knows very little about fenestration products, and the glass/fenestration industry generally knows very little about PV panels. When each industry is asked by an architect about "packaging" these products, both the PV manufacturers and the glass/fenestration manufacturers can often provide little direction with respect to how it can be accomplished.
• BIPV panels are useless without fenestration products; like glass, they must be incorporated into fenestration applications. It's logical that PV panels become integrated into the glass and glazing industry segment, but it still presents a real challenge.

To address these concerns, the National Glass Association, www.glass.org, is recruiting BIPV manufacturers to exhibit at GlassBuild America: The Glass, Window & Door Expo in Atlanta, Sept. 12-14. This will be a big step toward connecting BIPV manufacturers to glass and glazing subcontractors, as well as fenestration building product manufacturers.

To be successful, glass and glazing subcontractors need to be proactive in researching and educating themselves about BIPV. This technology is poised to really gain traction. Will you be ready?