Fraunhofer ISE, a leading German research organisation, has initiated a project to improve manufacturing processes and material use for building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV).
The project, named “AluPV,” brings together Fraunhofer ISE with several partners, including Baltic Renewable Partners, the Institute for Solar Energy Research, MN Metall, Solarnative, and VHF Plan Liesenhoff, with research conducted at Fraunhofer's Center for Silicon Photovoltaics in Germany.
AluPV will focus on adhesives, particularly how to effectively bond photovoltaic module backsheets to aluminium surfaces, a critical issue in BIPV applications where panels are commonly affixed to aluminium structures. The project will explore the use of different materials, such as aluminium, glass, and polymers, to assess their suitability for building facades.
A significant area of investigation will be the development of lightweight profiles to reduce the overall weight of BIPV systems. Rather than concealing solar cells, Fraunhofer is working on an innovative modular facade system to offer greater flexibility in design, with a focus on creating visually integrated solar panels for buildings.
The project aims to address the challenges facing BIPV, a technology considered promising but slow to reach widespread adoption. A European Commission report estimated that Germany alone has the potential for 81 GW of BIPV capacity, but the solar market has largely shifted toward ground-mounted installations, which offer the lowest levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) according to Fraunhofer ISE research.
This new initiative builds on Fraunhofer ISE's previous technological advancements, including the recent development of a tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) cell with a power conversion efficiency of 24%.
The AluPV project represents the latest effort to explore BIPV's potential and make it more viable for future energy infrastructure.
