National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Photovoltaic Research
Building-Integrated PV
The outside surfaces of the North Exelon Pavilion buildings in Chicago are covered in 460 BIPV modules that generate up to 16,000 kWh of electricity annually.
Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) research at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) focuses on one of the fastest growing segments of the solar industry—the integration of photovoltaic (PV) panels into buildings during construction. BIPV replaces traditional building materials such as roofs, window overhangs, and walls. NREL researchers investigate how BIPV systems are integrated into buildings to improve building aesthetics and system reliability while reducing costs and utility transmission losses. We also work to improve market acceptance of the technology.
Our primary project goal is to make PV a widely accepted building technology in the 21st century, resulting in solar-powered homes and businesses that demonstrate building-integrated PV and solar technologies in marketable applications and partnerships that build on successes. Our technical approach is the use of two interrelated activities: Solar Decathlon and research and development in PV for buildings.
Solar Decathlon
The 2005 Solar Decathlon welcomed well over 100,000 visitors to the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
The Solar Decathlon is an intercollegiate competition where students from around the world seek to design, build, and operate the best solar home in terms of attractiveness and energy efficiency. Eighteen teams from the United States, Canada, and Europe participated in the 2005 competition, which saw more than 100,000 visitors on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. More countries have joined the 2007 competition. NREL's BIPV Project manages the event, including scoring and selection of judges; review of home designs; instrumentation; communications development and media outreach; coordination of teams, corporate sponsors, and volunteers; procurement of stagecraft and assembly of the village; and safe conduct of the entire event. The Solar Decathlon is a key strategy for NREL and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to foster development and facilitate widespread adoption of BIPV, resulting in solar-powered homes that demonstrate solar technologies in marketable applications. A critical long-range goal of the Solar Decathlon project is the development and demonstration of solar-powered homes for the building industry by the year 2015. For more information, visit the Solar Decathlon Website.
Project Objectives
- Produce and manage the 2007 Solar Decathlon,
- Support deployment of BIPV technologies through subcontracted R&D projects in BIPV and through development of a greater understanding of BIPV system performance, and
- Accelerate adoption of BIPV in new residential and commercial construction through technical assistance and successful collaborative partnerships.
Project Accomplishments
- We implemented a successful 2005 Solar Decathlon competition
- We held "Building Industry Day" for builders at the 2005 Solar Decathlon
- We developed and released a solicitation for the 2007 Solar Decathlon event
- We selected teams for the 2007 Solar Decathlon and launched the activities leading toward execution of the 2007 event. Awarded 2-year, $100,000 contracts to these 20 teams.
- We published a technical report called, Solar Decathlon 2005: The Event in Review.
Future Project Plans
- Conduct the 2007 Solar Decathlon in the first quarter, FY 2008, and release a solicitation for the 2009 event.
- Monitor and guide the development of BIPV through the subcontracted university programs.
- Assess performance of selected, occupied former Solar Decathlon entries to assess longer-term implications of PV in buildings.
- Continue and expand productive interactions with the building industry.
More information about PV
Contact Us
For questions about Solar Decathlon, visit the website.
For research and development questions, contact:
Cecile Warner
Email: Cecile_warner@nrel.gov