This project aimed to develop low cost building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) roofing for mass market residential and commercial applications on Australian buildings.
Report extract
This project aimed to develop low cost building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) roofing for mass market residential and commercial applications on Australian buildings. As one of the largest suppliers of roofing material in the world, BlueScope sought to develop BIPV to reduce the total installed cost of traditional roofing and rooftop PV, improve aesthetics, improve convenience to the building owner and enable the building supply chain to capture value and develop skills and capacity in the delivery of renewable energy.
Three prototype systems were successfully developed and installed as in market prototypes on both residential and commercial buildings. The prototypes were designed to optimise the integration of flexible thin film PV technologies and balance of system components to deliver a superior and cost effective complete system solution. As such, an evaluation of flexible thin film PV (CIGS) technology was undertaken analysing efficiency, lifespan and encapsulation to determine its suitability for rooftop BIPV. In addition to this, BlueScope evaluated and developed in-factory integration processes and designed roofing profiles to be mass production ready.
Throughout this development process, BlueScope engaged extensively with key influencers and decision makers across the building market supply chain. In addition, a range of commercial suppliers and partners supported the development of the BIPV roofing systems or contributed components and services to enable the successful installation of the 3 prototype systems. As such there have been many insights and design iterations to improve the proposed designs and their cost effective installation on Australian residential and commercial buildings.
