Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) is a rising technology with great potential for reducing the carbon footprint and electricity bill of a building. BIPV represents financial benefits for the building, but it also means a high upfront cost surpassing that of traditional façade.
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Cost is one of the most important factors to consider in BIPV systems. In this article, we break down the cost for the hardware and soft costs of a BIPV installation, analyze operation & maintenance costs, and even provide you with extra recommendations to reduce cost and increase gains at a building with a BIPV.
Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) is a technology that provides buildings with the ability to generate solar power without disrupting the aesthetic of the architectural design. The technology integrates photovoltaic (PV) modules into the skin of a building, replacing the façade and pitched/flat/curved roofs.
Some BIPV applications include metal PV modules or solar shingles for the roof, customized sized PV modules with aesthetic design for the solar façade, photovoltaic windows replacing glazing and PV skylights for the building, and other adaptations of PV that integrate into the skin of the building.
Average price for an EU BIPV glass glass module is 120-250&#;/m2. From as low as 95&#;/m2 to as much as 380&#;/m2.
On a general basis, the cost for most BIPV products can be found in price range going from 200&#;/m2 &#; 625&#;/m2. The overall cost for a BIPV system can be broken down into two categories: hardware and soft costs. In this section, we will explain the breakdown cost for each category and subcategory.
The hardware costs of a BIPV system include tangible (hardware) structural and electrical components required for the system and installation. This category is subdivided into two: BIPV modules and Balance of System (BOS).
The cost for PV modules represents around 43% to 77% of the PV system cost. The major aspect varying the cost is the technology used for the BIPV modules. The average price for an European BIPV glass glass module rounds about 120-250&#;/m2, whereas the minimum price for standard European glass-glass module can be as low as 95&#;/m2. But if you are looking for a one-of-a-kind result for solar exterior customization, the price can go up to as much as 380&#;/m2.
The Balance of System (BOS) category includes hardware components that do not fall under the BIPV module category, meaning inverters, mounting components, storage systems, and other hardware required for the installation. BOS components take on average 10% to 16% of the BIPV installation cost, but the cost for BOS components might increase for installation with a high level of complexity.
The inverter is a very important component in the BIPV installation. The cost depends on the technology chosen, varying between central inverters (0.13&#;/W), string inverters (0.17&#;/W), or micro-inverters (0.35&#;/W).
The cost for storage systems is another expensive yet important BOS component. The most recommend technology is Lithium-Ion, which costs around 534&#;/kWh, but it is estimated that the price will be reduced to 202&#;/W by .
Other BOS components include charge controllers, meters, cables, AC/DC isolators, and others. There is little cost research about these components for BIPV systems. Depending on the mounting hardware technology and quality, the price could be reduced for low requirement installations or increased on the contrary case.
Soft costs include any expense that does not translate as a hardware component. Soft costs are divided into the following categories: design, procurement, construction & installation, permit, inspection, interconnection (PII), and disposal. These costs are highly site-specific and vary a lot depending on the country. In this section, we explain each of them.
The proper design of a BIPV system is the first stage of the process, which is one of the first costs to consider. Design costs include doing the site survey, making preliminary designs, preparing reports, and other tasks required to design the system. For instance, a study case of an 11KW Polycrystalline BIPV roofing system in Italy had a design costing 0.29&#;/W.
Procurement costs involved in BIPV systems represent site visits, transportation, contract negotiations, renting storage space for components, and similar expenses in the process. On average one could expect transportation costs for standard solar PV modules 0,5-2%, and for custom solar modules 1.5-8% of PV module cost., but this can vary depending on the region.
Construction & Installation represents an important cost for BIPV systems. While it is hard to estimate its cost across Europe, these expenses include skilled labor, supervision hours, consulting, health & safety contingencies, and other costs related to the construction of infrastructure and installation of the system.
Permit, Inspection, and Interconnection (PII) of a BIPV system represents significant soft costs that vary between countries. PII costs translate as fees required to approve the installation, staff hours to prepare interconnection for the BIPV system to the grid, site inspections, and similar expenses. A study case Germany installation places administrative costs at 0.01&#;/W and other PII costs at 0.055&#;/W.
Disposal costs are not always considered during the 30 to 50 lifespan years of a BIPV system. Expenses in this category translate as costs for dismounting, transporting, and disposing of (for recycling) BIPV systems. Since BIPV technology is fairly new and most installations are operating, these costs have not been widely researched.
The estimated cost for a BIPV façade varies depending on the type of BIPV product, with a price ranging from 200&#;/m2 &#; 625&#;/m2, delivering a payback period of 10 &#; 15 years in Europe, this surpasses non-active facades and regular roofing, especially since these options do not have a return of investment (ROI). Other options include installing roof-integrated thin-film BIPV systems, which cost an average of 134&#;/m2.
On the other hand, as can be seen in figure 3, the cost for conventional roofing is much lower when compared to BIPV roofing options. Some conventional roofing materials like metal, ceramic, and concrete tiles, can have prices ranging the 25&#;/m2 &#; 100&#;/m2. More expensive options include thatch roofing and slates which have costs going from 100&#;/m2 &#; 175&#;/m2.
It is true that the upfront investment required for BIPV facades and roofing, tends to be much higher than for non-active options, but it is important to also look at the revenues. During 30 years, a BIPV system costing around 450&#;/m2 could have a ROI of 15 years and produce savings of 450&#;/m2 for remaining 15 years of the systems lifespan. Where solar roofing ROI can reach approximately 8-12 years of payback time. Considering that non-active facades and regular roofing produce 0&#;/, the most wise investment is clearly using BIPV technology.
Operation & Maintenance (O&M) costs include hardware and soft costs, which is why we place this category separate from the rest. O&M costs for BIPV include monitoring the system, repairing components, and other costs arising due to unforeseen situations like vandalism, fires, extreme weather events, and others.
O&M costs are estimated at 0.5% of the initial investment, but this considers ideal circumstances with regular maintenance and operability. O&M costs differ when mainstream PV power plants, BIPV or rooftop (BAPV or solar roof tiles) are taken into consideration. In cases, where O&M software is being used the efficiency and yield of such solar plants increases greatly. Let alone the fact, that maintenance work is triggered only when such software indicates the demand for such services, this concludes in lowering overall O&M costs.
Another cost to be considered is the regular replacement of the inverter, which is performed every 15 years and represents a cost of 10% of the initial investment.
BIPV systems require a considerable upfront investment, which is why we recommend reducing overall installation expenses and looking for methods to optimize gains, ensuring the best cost in the long run. In this section we provide you with some aspects to consider when designing and operating a BIPV system:
Reduce cost for replacing batteries by using the recommended Depth of Discharge (DoD).
Installing a BIPV system in Europe, costs in average 200&#;/m2 to 625&#;/m2, delivering a ROI of 10 to 15 years. Depending on the cost for electricity, the final cost for the installation, location of PV plant and a few other factors, the payback time time for BIPV can be reach 6 years. A BIPV system does not only represent a source of power to reduce electricity costs for the building, but it also represent a source of income.
With the information in this article, you can understand better the upfront cost investment for a BIPV system, and every other aspect involved in the budget. This will provide you with enough information to estimate the cost for a particular system and consider the different aspects of the installation.
By using our considerations when designing a BIPV building, you will reduce BIPV costs and increase gains to the maximum. This will make the BIPV system even more profitable, and it might even provide it with a longer lifespan.
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What is Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV)?
Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) is a technology that provides solar power generation capacity to a building without disrupting the aesthetics of the building design. The technology integrates photovoltaic (PV) modules into the skin of a building, replacing the façade and sloping/flat/curved roofs.
Some BIPV applications include metal PV modules or solar tiles for roofs, aesthetically designed custom-sized PV modules for solar facades, PV windows to replace building glazing and PV skylights, and other PV retrofits integrated into the building skin.
Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) is an emerging technology with great potential to reduce the carbon footprint and electricity bills of buildings. bipv represents an economic benefit for buildings, but also implies high upfront costs compared to traditional facades.
Types of BIPV options
There are several BIPV technologies available for building applications. Due to its natural insulating properties, BIPV can reduce the amount of energy required to operate a building.
These technologies can be used in a number of different ways for building applications. The four most common ways in which BIPV is used in build applications are
External walls
Windows and overhead glazing
Roofs
Sunshades
Further benefits of BIPV
BIPV technology can produce more energy than conventional solar panels and requires less space.
Integrated photovoltaics are an environmentally friendly technology as they do not pollute the environment.
The use of BIPV will have a positive impact on your organisation - if you use it in your building or company
BIPV Costs
Most BIPV products are available in the price range of 200&#;/m2 to 625&#;/m2.
The total cost of a BIPV system can be divided into two categories: hardware costs and soft costs. In this section we will explain the breakdown of costs for each category and sub-category.
Hardware costs
The hardware costs of a BIPV system include the physical (hardware) structure and electrical components required for the system and installation. This category is subdivided into two: BIPV modules and balance of systems (BOS).
BIPV modules
The cost of PV modules accounts for approximately 43% to 77% of the cost of a PV system. The main aspect that changes costs is the technology used for BIPV modules. The average price of a BIPV glass-glass module in Europe is around 120-250 euros per square metre, while the lowest price for a standard European glass-glass module can be as low as 95 euros per square metre. However, if you are looking for a unique solar external customised result, the price can be as high as &#;380/m2.
Balance of Systems (BOS)
The Balance of System (BOS) category includes hardware components that are not part of the BIPV module category, i.e. inverters, mounting components, storage systems and other hardware required for the installation. bOS components represent on average between 10% and 16% of the cost of a BIPV installation, but the cost of BOS components can increase depending on the complexity of the installation.
The inverter is a very important component in a BIPV installation. The cost depends on the technology chosen and varies between a central inverter (0.13&#;/W), a string inverter (0.17&#;/W) or a micro-inverter (0.35&#;/W).
The cost of the storage system is another expensive but important BOS component. The most recommended technology is lithium-ion batteries, which cost around &#;534/kWh, but prices are expected to fall to &#;202/W by .
Other BOS components include charge controllers, meters, cables, AC/DC isolators, etc. Little research has been done on the costs of these components for BIPV systems. Depending on the technology and quality of the installation hardware, prices may decrease for less demanding installations and conversely may increase.
Soft costs
Soft costs include any costs that do not translate into hardware components. Soft costs fall into the following categories: design, procurement, construction and installation, licensing, inspection, interconnection (PII) and disposal. These costs are highly site specific and vary from country to country/region to region. In this section we will explain each of them.
Design
The correct design of a BIPV system is the first stage of the process and this is one of the first costs to be considered. Design costs include conducting site surveys, carrying out preliminary design, preparing reports and other tasks required to design the system. For example, the design cost for a study case of an 11KW polycrystalline BIPV roofing system in Italy was 0.29&#;/watt.
Procurement
The procurement costs involved in BIPV systems include site visits, transport, contract negotiations, module storage space rental and similar costs in the process. On average, transport costs are expected to be 0.5-2% for standard solar PV modules and 1.5-8% of the PV module cost for customised solar modules. However, this may vary from region to region.
Construction and installation
Construction and installation is a significant cost of BIPV systems. While it is difficult to estimate their costs across Europe, these include skilled labour, supervision time, consultancy, health and safety contingency costs, and other costs associated with infrastructure construction and system installation.
Permitting, Inspection, Interconnection (PII)
The permitting, inspection and interconnection (PII) of BIPV systems represents significant soft costs that vary from country to country. the PII costs translate into the costs required to approve the installation, the time spent working to prepare the BIPV system for interconnection to the grid, site inspections and similar costs. A study case German installation sets the administrative cost at 0.01&#;/watt and other PII costs at 0.055&#;/watt.
Handling
Disposal costs are not always considered during the 30 to 50 year life cycle of a BIPV system. The costs in this category translate into the cost of dismantling, transporting and disposing (for recycling) the BIPV system. As BIPV technology is fairly new and most installations are in operation, these costs have not been extensively studied.
BIPV façade costs
Estimated costs for BIPV facades depend on the type of BIPV product, with prices ranging from &#;200/m2 - &#;625/m2 and a payback period of 10 - 15 years in Europe, which exceeds that of inactive facades and term roofs, particularly as these options have no return on investment (ROI).
The average cost of a BIPV roof with integrated membrane BIPV system is 134&#;/m2.
The cost of a BIPV balcony is around &#;520/m2 and a sunshade is &#;800/m2.
Prices for BIPV glass curtain walls range from &#;520/m2 to &#;1,120/m2.
O&M costs
Operation and maintenance (O&M) costs include both hardware and software costs, which is why we have separated this category from the others. the O&M costs for BIPVs include monitoring systems, maintenance components and other costs due to unforeseen circumstances such as vandalism, fire, extreme weather events, etc.
O&M costs are estimated at 0.5% of the initial investment, but this takes into account the ideal situation of having regular maintenance and operability. O&M costs will vary when considering mainstream PV plants, BIPV or rooftop (BAPV or solar roof tiles). With the use of O&M software, the efficiency and output of such solar power plants can be significantly increased. Not to mention the fact that maintenance is only triggered when such software indicates a need for such services, which ultimately reduces overall O&M costs.
Another cost to consider is the regular replacement of the inverters, which takes place every 15 years and represents 10% of the initial investment.
Overall, the cost of BIPV technology varies depending on the use case, for example, the total installed cost of installing a solar module of 3kW to 8kW can range from $9,255 to $28,000.