TSEP#192 BIPV: Solar Cells in the Roof – More Than Just a Niche?

Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) is a niche on the PV market – but its market share has been growing since manufacturing costs can be lowered and rooftop PV with BIPV characteristics, where piles of a roof are substituted by PV Modules, is gaining momentum. But manufacturing costs are still the defining variable that hinders BIPV to become a mainstream application. In this episode, we talked about the development of the market and manufacturing prices with Philippe Macé, Partner and COO at Becquerel Institute. Timeline: 05:45 The high customization of BIPV components leads to the more elevated price – can you tell us a little bit more about the price ratio between highly customized BIPV components vs. streamlined products? 08:45 What are the general challenges/ barriers to the BIPV market? 10:09 To what extent could streamlining production contribute to market growth? 12:23 Does the crisis in the building sector have an impact on the BIPV market? 18:14 What is the potential for BIPV here in Europe? About Philippe Mace & Becquerel Philippe Macé, Chief Operating Officer at the Becquerel Institute, a Belgian strategic consultancy and applied research company specialising in photovoltaic solar energy. Where he has been working for more than 8 years. Philippe has a strong expertise in new business model design as well as in techno-economic issues, both upstream of the value chain, such as PV production cost assessment, and downstream, on systems competitiveness assessments. With his team, Philippe is exploring all key aspects of solar PV, from economics to technology, market and regulation as well as environmental or social life cycle analysis, providing strategic insights and creating value for customers as part of consulting missions and research projects. The Becquerel Institute specializes on key aspects relating to the accelerated penetration of Solar PV as a mainstream electricity source, and to the energy transition in general; in Europe and Worldwide. The Becquerel Institute is committed to excellence, creativity and innovation. It provides expert advice on PV and electricity markets, with a particular focus in the fields of PV markets, industry analysis, PV competitiveness within the electricity markets, regulatory and policy analysis, business modeling and financial instruments, and last but not least, BIPV. Questions or suggestions? Then send us an email to [email protected]