Building Integrated Photovoltaics

EVWIND

The building industry in the United States and in many other parts of the world has faced severe challenges, with continued low housing starts and new builds for some time. At the same time, the global solar industry has been subjected to severe reductions in financial subsidies in key markets that, until recently, were the savior of the industry. The emergent building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) and building applied photovoltaics (BAPV) market, which straddles the two industries, offers a new way to develop revenue streams for both parties. Though it has drawn scant attention, until recently, from the solar industry’s major players, BIPV is set to become one of the fastest-growing segments in the sector, with up to 4.6 GW of installations forecast through 2017.

Reductions in feed-in tariffs and other support schemes for solar energy have caused massive upheaval throughout the world. Despite the sharp reduction of financial incentives and the ongoing economic troubles in the Eurozone, however, Western Europe remains the largest market for BIPV products. Other notable new markets for BIPV that are likely to emerge through 2017 include Eastern Europe (Lithuania, Serbia, Slovenia, Poland, and Ukraine), Asia Pacific (especially Australia, China, India, Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand), Latin America (Brazil and Chile), and South Africa. While the solar industry has faced numerous challenges in the United States, the U.S. government is paying greater attention to BIPV, as shown by the Department of Energy’s approval of an additional $145 million in funding for the SunShot Initiative – and specifically BIPV development programs – in September 2011.

This Pike Research report examines the expanding global markets for BIPV and BAPV including a comprehensive analysis of demand drivers and economics, technology issues, and key industry players. The report includes detailed profiles of 53 companies in the sector as well as a detailed review of current government policies and financial incentives. Forecasts for worldwide BIPV/BAPV capacity by world region and by technology, along with forecasts of wholesale market revenues, are provided through 2017.

Key Questions Addressed:

• What is the market for BIPV and BAPV in terms of overall market growth and end market applications?
• Which technological advances will help drive BIPV/BAPV to a significant share of the overall solar market?
• How will the reductions in FITs and other government support mechanisms affect the emerging BIPV market?
• Who are the current key players and technologies in the BIPV/BAPV market and which emerging technologies and companies will likely win market share?
• What are the characteristics of the BIPV/BAPV market in various world regions?
• How large will the BIPV/BAPV market be through 2017 in terms of capacity and revenues?

http://www.pikeresearch.com/research/building-integrated-photovoltaics