Incorporating PV in Buildings A Gathering of Eagles 1 Incorporating PV in Buildings A Gathering of Eagles Introduction and Purpose Commercial buildings are technically ideal platforms for solar electricity production systems The simplest application i e commercial rooftop PV involves arrays of photovoltaic modules mounted on flat roof spaces unobstructed by other equipment Other applications where the PV array is an integrated architectural element referred to as building integrated PV BIPV have also been envisioned and demonstrated including use of PV materials in skylights windows and other vertical and sloped portions of the building envelope It is simplest to install commercial rooftop PV on existing roofs Likewise it is simplest to implement BIPV during design and construction of new buildings The technology for commercial rooftop PV is relatively wellestablished in parts of the global market while technology for the most elegant and visionary applications of BIPV remains to be realized commercially 1 Because the National Renewable Energy Laboratory NREL is involved in creating and transferring renewable energy technology and because the Sustainable Buildings Industry Council SBIC provides a forum and repository for the diverse industries and disciplines involved in sustainable building design and construction it was natural for the two organizations to join forces to consider opportunities and barriers to widespread incorporation of solar electricity sources in existing and future commercial buildings in the U S The two organizations started from a premise that dialog between the existing building industry and its emerging solar electricity sector would lead to more and better integration of solar electricity systems in the nation s buildings A one day meeting gathering was envisioned and held on January 27 2005 as a starting point for the proposed dialog the strategy for the day was to bring together leaders Eagles from the mainstream industry including building owners designers and constructors as well as leaders Eagles from the industries involved in deploying commercial rooftop PV systems and preparing the way for the more integrated systems of the future The agenda for this Gathering of Eagles started with a situation report on the U S PV industry followed by more specific sessions dealing first with barriers and opportunities of commercial rooftop PV and then with barriers and opportunities of BIPV Arrangements were made for these sessions to be professionally facilitated in order to capture specific follow up actions requiring collaboration between the existing industry and its new solar electricity sector Specifically the Eagles were asked to consider and respond to the following strategic questions 1 Commercial Rooftop PV What are the near term opportunities for increasing the amount of rooftop PV on commercial buildings For example what can be done to encourage economically viable large scale PV installations on commercial big box retail and office park development versus the smaller PV arrays more widely installed for economic and public relations benefits Should the U S look more closely at strategies that are successfully jump starting the commercial rooftop PV market across Europe How could such strategies be adapted to U S policy and constraints and political preferences A notable exception is the award winning apartment building The Solaire 20 River Terrace Battery Park City NY 2003 Here BIPV is skillfully integrated into the fa ade Cesar Pelli Associates Incorporating PV in Buildings A Gathering of Eagles 2 BIPV What are the near term opportunities for increasing the amount of BIPV into commercial buildings For example there is a critical need for sustained and purposeful dialog between the building and solar industries An outcome of this dialog may be an effort to target plug and play products that can be conveniently specified by architects and engineers delivered through traditional building product supply channels and installed by the traditional building trades It is well known that most prior research and development R D addressing BIPV products have been disappointing when measured against its potential deployment What can be done to encourage sustained and successful research and development towards more integrated products like AC modules and PV integrated insulated glass units To ensure that Eagles could spend time referring to rather than generating relevant information a background paper was prepared that was organized consistent with the meeting agenda i e starting with an overview of the PV industry and market then summarizing the relevant aspects of commercial rooftop PV systems and their market and finally highlighting areas where commercial rooftop PV and BIPV differ The Eagles and invited observers were free to discuss issues raised as the meeting progressed The simplicity of the meeting agenda masked the complexities and overlaps of the market e g commercial rooftop PV is evolving steadily in the direction of more integrated systems and likewise future BIPV applications will likely incorporate technical elements and market experience from on going commercial rooftop deployment Further over time the boundaries between the PV sector and the remainder of the building industry are likely to blur as has occurred when other new technologies have been absorbed and embraced as standard practice This paper presents a basic market analysis of solar energy and its use in a specific segment of commercial construction In addition the paper incorporates the observations and views of those who participated in the Gathering of Eagles along with proposed actions and recommendations As energy issues continue to impact the American economy this timely dialog between various constituencies will ultimately lead to the increased use of solar energy solutions in future development and construction projects as one means of reaching energy independence in the new millennium Technology and Market Overview Solar Electricity for Commercial Buildings Status and Vision Photovoltaics PV do more than offer energy alternatives for this century and the promise of truly renewable energy systems Commercial building owners who appreciate and or understand the added value of a truly sustainable energy strategy for new construction today install PV systems in many diverse American climates Solar energy offers the possibility of a secure and dependable source of energy where
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