What are the actual cost targets for these BIPV products?+
The project set and worked toward specific cost targets per product type: glass façade systems at 180 €/m2 with ultra-easy plug-and-play mounting, multifunctional façade cladding with integrated insulation at 250 €/m2 (of which 112 €/m2 for glass-glass modules), and back-contact cell modules for walkable floors and curtain walls at 275 €/m2. Coloured glass-glass modules using powdered paints achieved cost reductions of 21 to 66 €/m2 compared to ceramic frit paints.
Can these products be manufactured at industrial scale?+
Yes, the project developed a completely flexible and automated BIPV manufacturing and control line, including a flexible tabber stringer, lay-up equipment, string interconnection, and electroluminescence inspection — all built to industrial specifications. With 17 industry partners (81% of the consortium) and 11 SMEs involved, the manufacturing chain was designed for scale-up from the start.
What about intellectual property and licensing?+
The project involved 21 partners including major industry players and Tecnalia as coordinator. Based on available project data, IP would be distributed among consortium members according to their EU grant agreement. Businesses interested in licensing specific technologies (automated manufacturing line, coloured module coatings, façade systems) would need to negotiate with the relevant technology providers in the consortium.
Do these products meet building regulations and standards?+
The project included dedicated advanced standardization activities specifically aimed at qualifying BIPV systems for massive implementation in building envelopes. This included compliance with legal regulations and building codes. Functional samples were validated against defined specifications at real demonstration sites.
How proven is this technology — is it lab-stage or real-world tested?+
This was an Innovation Action with prototypes manufactured and installed at real demonstration sites. Each technology provider produced prototypes for integration in demo buildings, including BIPV modules, roof and façade systems, and building optimization tools. The project ran from 2018 to 2023 and delivered 46 deliverables including 8 demonstration-related outputs.
How do these products integrate with existing building construction?+
The façade systems were designed with integration in mind — the glass façade system features an ultra-easy plug-and-play mounting process with large module sizes and low weight. The façade cladding system includes integrated insulation, replacing multiple traditional building layers with a single multifunctional product. Both C-Si and CIGS solar cell technologies were studied along with lightweight laminate options.
What kind of buildings were used for demonstrations?+
Based on available project data, prototypes were manufactured by each technology provider for multiple demonstration sites and tested in real operation conditions. The consortium spans 7 countries (Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Netherlands), suggesting demo sites across different European climates and building regulations.
