1. Beyond the Panel
Looking at PV in a Different Light
What Could the Future Look Like?
Christopher Klinga, PE
Technical Director
October 21, 2016

2. Our Mission
Architectural Solar Association (ASA) is an
industry advocate for standards development,
education, legislative regulations, building &
energy codes and solar architecture design
specification as they relate to integrating solar
into the architectural envelope.
We represent a growing industry with a
common goal of transforming building facades
and other architectural surfaces into
generating assets.
•

3. Objectives
Standard Development
UL 1703 is a major barrier to integrating solar with the building
envelope. Changes in codes and standards are the first step
in widespread adoption.
Demand Creation
There is currently far too much uncertainty in the tax code and
how to establish effective financing mechanisms for
architectural solar installations. ASA looks to develop ways to
break down this uncertainty through various mechanisms.
Building Industry Adoption
The US building industry and the solar industry have yet to
fully integrate. Solar needs to be a ubiquitous resource to all
building professionals. ASA looks to make that possible.
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4. Overview
• Definition of BIPV
• Architectural Integration
Opportunities
• Benefits and Trends of
Architectural Solar
• Commercially Available Solutions
• The Future of PV in Architecture

5. BIPV
PV with Architectural
Significance
BIPV shall be defined as a photovoltaic
generating component which forms an
integral and essential part of a permanent
building structure without which a non-BIPV
building material or component would be
required to replace it. The performance of
power generation by a BIPV component is
deemed to be secondary to the role of being
a building material or structural component.
BIPV occupies a space in the building design
such that, if removed from that space, its
absence will be distinct and noticeable.

6. Why is the Market Ready for BIPV?
• Technology Advancements
• Steep $/W cost reductions
• Higher efficiency per unit area
• PV solar has reached grid parity
Compelling BIPV Economics
• Competitive IGU COGS
• Compelling payback
• ITC credits & MACRS
• Higher lease rates and velocity
Trending Tail Winds
• Government BIPV Regulations
• Net Zero Buildings
• Green Building Incentives
• Strong Desire for Sustainability

7. Sun Shades
Roof GlazingFaçade PanelsCanopies
Spandrel
Transom (Eye Brows) Selective Vision
Architectural Integration Opportunities
Art Installations

8. BIPV
Benefits
• Increases distributed energy
generation potential.
• Capable of serving multiple design
intents.
• Visually & Functionally
• Capable of reducing cooling load
through shading.
• Manufacturing and installation
costs can be analyzed on an
incremental level.

9. Compelling
Economics
• Ballpark Curtain Wall Construction “Price”
• $80-$120 per sq ft
• IGUs Price – $10-$15 per sqft
• PV Threshold for Tax Credit Parity
• $2.45 per watt PV @ 15% Efficiency = ~$34 per
sq ft
• BIPV Curtain Wall System @ 15% Efficiency
• $104 – $154 per sq ft
• Post 30% Federal Tax Credit Price
• $80-$108 per sq ft

10. Frameless Module Manufacturers
North America
• Lumos
• SunPreme
• Prism Solar
• Walters & Wolf *
• First Solar
• Stion
Europe
• Energy Glass*
• Onyx Solar
Asia
• Almaden
• Trina
• Jinko Solar
• Canadian Solar
• Risen Energy*
• Yingli*
• HT-SAAE*
* Providers currently lacking UL certification

11. Benefits
• Solaria Cell Processing
• PVIGUs – Photovoltaic Insulated Glass
Units
• Reduced Solar Heat Gain Coefficient
• Options to tailor transmittance
• Spandrel and Façade Area Integration
• Large surface area potential
• Louvers & Sun Shade Integration
• Increase the useable building footprint
while reducing cooling load
Trends in Architectural Solar

12. Solaria Proprietary and Confidential Information ©2016 Do Not Copy, Replicate, or Reproduce.
Solaria BIPV – Key Manufacturing Steps
Scribe-
Singulation-
Stringing
Layup &
Bussing
String Lamination
or Autoclave
Final Test/QA
Silicon PV Cells Glass-Encapsulant-
PV-Encapsulant-Glass
PV Strings
PowerView™
Laminates
PV-Laminate

13. PowerView
A Fully Engineered
Façade System
• Design flexibility and custom
configurations
• Energy efficiency
• Enables higher glass-to-wall ratio
• Effective daylighting and glare control
• Bird safety
• High energy yield
• Compelling economics

14. So what could the
future look like?
Architectural Solar holds the promise of being highly
suitable for the built environment. The variation in
products and integration possibilities could result in
aesthetically superior buildings with greater functionality.
From a technical perspective, the production process is
reduced in comparison to commodity solar solutions.
The savings in construction time and material together
with the improved aesthetics will contribute to the
success of BIPV.
The final and most important step will be to effectively
integrate solar solutions into the complete value chain of
the building industry.