The IEA PVPS Task 15 report, "Successful Building Integration of Photovoltaics: A Collection of International Projects," is currently the most comprehensive and insightful resource on Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV). This report showcases some of the most beautiful and innovative examples of BIPV projects from across the globe, offering a detailed look into how solar energy can seamlessly blend with architectural aesthetics while achieving sustainability goals.
What makes this report remarkable is its ability to collect projects that not only fulfill the technical requirements of BIPV systems but also demonstrate outstanding architectural integration. These projects serve as invaluable case studies for architects, builders, and policymakers who aim to adopt and scale BIPV in future developments.
Highlighted BIPV Projects Worldwide:
Public Buildings:
J&P Lougheed Arts Centre, Camrose, Canada
This performing arts center integrates BIPV into its façade with 488 solar modules providing 120 kW of power. The system reduces operational costs by generating around 75 MWh of electricity annually while also serving as a rainscreen for the building.
Harbourfront Centre Theatre, Toronto, Canada
This unique BIPV project features custom-made solar modules that integrate art into the building’s curtain wall. Generating 1.4 kW of power, it serves as an artistic landmark while providing thermal and acoustic insulation to the theater.
Brynseng Primary School, Oslo, Norway
One of Norway’s largest BIPV facades, this school features over 1,000 m² of solar panels covering 37% of the building's south-facing façade. The system generates 105 MWh annually and covers 25% of the school's electricity needs.
International School, Copenhagen, Denmark
Incorporating 12,000 solar modules across 6,000 m² of its façade, this project generates 700 kW of power. The striking green color of the modules adds an aesthetic element, making the school a prime example of how BIPV can blend sustainability with design.
Umwelt Arena Schweiz, Spreitenbach, Switzerland
The Umwelt Arena features a BIPV roof spanning over 5,000 m², with 737 kWp of power capacity. Its innovative design, resembling scales, supports environmental education while showcasing the aesthetic potential of BIPV.
Commercial Buildings:
Fronius Aktiv Energy Tower, Wels, Austria
This office building features a fully integrated BIPV façade and roof that together produce over 60% of the building's energy needs. The project demonstrates the potential for solar energy to significantly reduce operational energy costs.
ENERGYbase Office, Vienna, Austria
Designed as a plus-energy building, this office integrates 220 m² of solar panels into its façade and roof, producing nearly all the electricity the building requires, setting a new standard for energy-efficient commercial buildings.
CIEMAT Office, Madrid, Spain
Featuring a combination of BIPV technologies, this office building demonstrates how solar energy can be integrated into multiple surfaces, producing 27.6 kWp of power across its façade and rooftop.
Azurmendi Restaurant, Biscay, Spain
A Michelin-starred restaurant incorporating BIPV in its roof and skylights, generating 26 kWp. This project highlights the intersection of sustainability and gastronomy, proving that energy efficiency can extend to the hospitality sector.
San Anton Market, Madrid, Spain
This market’s rooftop features 35 kWp of integrated solar panels, powering much of the building while also supporting Madrid’s green energy goals and promoting sustainable urban development.
Enzian Office, Bolzano, Italy
Integrating BIPV into both the roof and façade, this office building generates 15 kWp and enhances the building's energy performance while maintaining aesthetic appeal.
NTT Sendai Aobadori Building, Sendai, Japan
A large-scale BIPV project that incorporates solar panels across multiple façades, generating 56 kWp. It offers an example of how urban offices can harness solar energy while maintaining design flexibility.
Toshima City Hall, Toshima, Japan
This government building integrates a BIPV curtain wall generating 135 kWp, blending modern aesthetics with energy efficiency, setting a benchmark for public infrastructure projects.
Solar Offices, Zhuhai, China
The BIPV system here incorporates 15 kWp of solar power into the building’s exterior, offering a balance between cutting-edge design and technological innovation in commercial properties.
Solsmaragden Offices, Drammen, Norway
With solar panels covering large portions of its roof and façades, this project generates 55 kWp, demonstrating sustainable office design in a northern climate.
Vala Gard Office, Helsingborg, Sweden
This office building features solar panels integrated into its roof and façade, producing 31 kWp of energy and serving as a model for BIPV applications in commercial properties.
Solar Silo, Basel, Switzerland
With a BIPV system generating 32 kWp, this building illustrates the potential for integrating solar energy into industrial and commercial areas while maintaining a visually striking design.
Residential Buildings:
Youth Housing, Slagelse, Denmark
This residential project integrates BIPV modules into the roof, producing enough energy to meet the building’s needs and reducing its carbon footprint while serving as a model for sustainable urban housing.
Single Family House, Ulestraten, Netherlands
This house’s BIPV roof produces 4.9 kWp of energy, demonstrating how solar power can be incorporated into residential design without compromising on aesthetics or functionality.
Single Family House, Lasa, Italy
Incorporating solar modules into the roof, this project produces 5.8 kWp and demonstrates the aesthetic and environmental benefits of BIPV for individual homes.
Social Housing Apartments, Best, Netherlands
This apartment complex integrates BIPV into its roof, producing 35 kWp and contributing to sustainable, energy-efficient urban housing solutions.
Skarpenes Village, Arendal, Norway
This community features homes with BIPV-integrated roofs producing a total of 40 kWp, providing renewable energy access to rural developments and showcasing how solar energy can benefit smaller communities.
Frodeparken, Uppsala, Sweden
This multi-family housing complex integrates BIPV into its façade and roof, generating 45 kWp of power, demonstrating the scalability of solar energy in urban residential areas.
MFH Hofwieserstraße, Zürich, Switzerland
This building features a BIPV façade producing 15 kWp, demonstrating how solar integration can enhance both the energy efficiency and design of residential developments.
Residential Renovation, Nechlin, Germany
A unique renovation project that integrates BIPV panels into the façade, generating 7 kWp, proving that older buildings can be retrofitted for sustainability.
These projects, featured in the IEA PVPS Task 15 report, provide invaluable insights into the future of building-integrated photovoltaics. Each project demonstrates the potential for solar energy to shape not just the functionality of a building, but its aesthetic and environmental impact as well. As we move toward more sustainable urban environments, these examples offer a blueprint for how BIPV can be a cornerstone of energy-efficient, visually stunning architecture.
