Photovoltaics to power up change

Secondary approach

In addition to BIPV, another viable approach to develop photovoltaic power is Building Applied Photovoltaics, or BAPV, where the modules are fixed to existing surfaces post-construction.

However, BAPV may result in more safety hazards and construction waste compared with BIPV, Chen said. The facades and roofs of many buildings may be plagued by water leaks, rust and damage, especially those made from metal on buildings in the industrial and commercial sectors, he said.

Moreover, BAPV will create more hazards, such as corrosion, and is also more prone to wind damage, he said. Entire facades may have to be repaired and the photovoltaic power system dismantled in no more than 10 years, he added.

Designed and constructed with the same service life as the buildings, BIPV can be resistant to water, fire and wind for 25 to 30 years.

With no need to repair the facade and dismantle the module in just eight to 10 years, it can prevent a large amount of construction waste, Chen said. Many BIPV products can be stamped on, making it unnecessary to provide maintenance routes, he added.

That means that in buildings of the same size, BIPV can have 15 percent more installed capacity, making it more possible for them to not only power themselves but also sell green electricity to other people.

Despite being advanced last century, the BIPV concept was only commercialized in China in 2020.

"In recent years, many photovoltaic and construction companies have entered the sector, but the industry is still in the initial development stage," Chen said.

He added that one of the challenges is that developers of BIPV projects need expertise in both photovoltaic systems and construction work.

"Only with a design that can integrate photovoltaic and building systems into a safe and efficient entirety can BIPV have a service life of 25 to 30 years as claimed," he said.

However, he believes that the country's preferential policies will result in the BIPV market experiencing a sharp rise in demand in the long run.

His view was endorsed by a recent report from GF Securities.

"Considering the large size of China's manufacturing industry and the world's high demand for its products, it is not easy to effectively realize green development and carbon reduction in the short term in the industry. Carbon reduction in the building sector, which is more flexible and has fewer hindering factors, has drawn more attention," the report said.