Enabling Massive Integration of PV into Buildings and Infrastructure

A dramatic rise in the implementation of renewable energy sources is needed if we want to meet European climate protection targets.

Photovoltaic (PV) costs have decreased spectacularly over time, turning photovoltaics into one of the most competitive sources of electricity in the EU.

An economically feasible and space-saving approach to increase the capacity of renewable energy sources is to integrate PV systems into structures that already exist or to build new structures that originally integrate a PV function.Building-integrated and infrastructure-integrated PV are technologically proven solutions.

Due to its multifunctionality, building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) installations can achieve a better economic and ecological balance over their lifetime than conventional building elements.

New technologies for PV cells, electrical connections, and front and back covers allow a free choice of formats and colours for integrated PV modules.

Likewise, infrastructure-integrated PV offers a large potential for PV integration, due to the unique advantages of somewhat standardized constructions, little emphasis on aesthetics and a small number of builders and owners compared to the building sector.However, integrated PV (IPV) is still a niche market.

Several barriers are still preventing the massive integration of PV into buildings and infrastructure.

The project MASS-IPV has been conceived as a multidisciplinary action that connects key players along the PV and construction value chains.

The goal of the project is to demonstrate that suitable tools, technologies, and methods, combined with a collaboration framework among key stakeholders, can overcome the barriers preventing the mass deployment of IPV and deliver multifunctional and cost-effective IPV systems for buildings and infrastructure.

Six different built objects will be used to demonstrate the technology, representing different construction typologies in five different locations in Europe.