Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV): Technologies and Global Markets

Report Highlights

Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) currently make up a small but noticeable part of the world PV market. The global market was valued at 1,201 megawatts in 2010 and is expected to increase at a 56% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to reach a capacity of 11,392 megawatts in 2015.

Report Scope

This report identifies commercial and near-commercial BIPV technologies, the manufacturers, and partner building component product manufacturers. The present- to mid-term markets for each type of BIPV application are characterized and quantified in terms of capacity (MW) for the installed product, revenue to the PV manufacturers, and capacity breakdown by PV technology. Projections are made of the market value (or at least regional price) of the wholesale value of the PV component of the installed products.

Where the world market has grown sufficiently for a particular BIPV “niche,” country and regional breakdowns are provided by geographic region and country. Much of this depends on the type of building component used in a particular region or country, and whether a suitable BIPV product has been developed, tested in the field, certified for installation, and brought up to production levels that can satisfy market demand.

The various BIPV niche markets are examined in terms of type of exterior building component class, PV technology offerings, geographic region, generating capacity, and revenue to the manufacturer. Additional characterizations are made of the market structures, quantities and relative strengths of adjunct product manufacturers, such as metal, composite, tile and TPO roofing companies, window glass and window manufacturers, and vendors, designers and installers of architectural fabrics and building cladding (weather envelopes). Smaller market opportunities such as skylighting, sunshading and shutters are also investigated.

The market structure discussion includes consideration of the forces shaping the markets, and successful strategies the early entrants into the market are making. This report also investigates national and regional public financial incentive strategies and regulatory regimes that help or hinder the development of each BIPV market segment. The way in which each type of PV technology fits (or doesn’t) into a given BIPV niche is examined. The coverage extends to c-Si, poly-Si, a-Si, CdTe, DSC, and OPV products.

Analyst Credentials

Michael Kujawa has authored market research reports covering a wide gamut of renewable energy technologies, including topics such as bulk power installations of photovoltaics, large wind turbines, small hydro, biogas, geothermal and ocean energy conversion systems. He has also covered world markets for stationary and transportation fuel cells, cogeneration equipment, building management systems, distributed generation, andU.S.markets for power production machinery in a deregulated power industry. Mr. Kujawa has co-founded several companies engaged in the development of clean energy technologies, onshore and offshore wind projects and multi-megawatt solar parks.