Overall objective
The objective of Task 7 was to enhance the architectural quality, the technical quality and the economic viability of PV systems in the built environment. The objective was also to assess and remove non-technical barriers for their introduction as an energy-significant option. It is expected that successful integration of PV systems into the built environment (BIPV) will contribute significantly to the future spread of PV. For this, active involvement of urban planners, architects and building engineers is required. Task 7 motivated the
collaboration between these groups and PV system specialists, utility specialists, PV and building industry and other professionals involved in photovoltaics.
Task 7 considered all grid connected systems other than classified as "ground based arrays". Primary focus of this Task was on the integration of PV into the architectural design of roofs and facades of residential, commercial and industrial buildings and other structures in the built environment (such as noise barriers, parking areas and railway canopies), and on other market factors, both technical and non-technical, that need to be addressed and resolved before wide spread adoption of PV in the built environment will occur.
Task 7 officially started on January 1, 1997 and finished end 2001. In 2002,
the last reports and deliverables were published. At the end of 2003 there remained
only one outstanding issue: the publication of the book "Designing
with Solar Power". This book is expected in Spring 2004.
[ Top ]
Subtask 1: Architectural design of photovoltaic power systems in the built environment
- Objective
Participants worked on the improvement of the architectural
design of PV systems as an integral element in buildings and other structures in the built environment. For this purpose, existing PV projects were documented. In addition, case studies were followed and evaluated by the Task Participants. Many of these case studies were realized as demonstration projects.
A selection of outstanding examples (both from existing projects as well as from the case studies) will be published as a book. As a sideline, design tools for architects were also developed.
- Activities
- Documentation of high quality projects
- Case studies
- Book of examples
- Design tools
- Conclusive results
- Database of over 400 PV projects www.pvdatabase.com (act. 1.1)
- Seven criteria to assess the architectural quality of BIPV systems (act. 1.1)
- Case studies: internal report, book available in Italian (act. 1.2)
- High Quality book “Designing with Solar Power” (250 p. on BIPV architecture) (act. 1.3)
- PVSyst 3.0 design tool to design and evaluate PV systems
(act. 1.4) - www.pvsyst.com
- Allsol design tool to design the overall solar energy system of a building (act. 1.4)
[ Top ]
Subtask 2: Systems technologies for photovoltaic power systems in the built environment
- Objectives
Participants worked on the development of new concepts for photovoltaic power systems in the built environment that canenhance the electrical performance or the performance of the PV system as a building component. New concepts, developed by the participants shall enhance market opportunities for the industry. This Subtask aims for a number of standardized and certified PV elements for integration in buildings and other structures in the built environment. The Subtask will also provide a number of options to effectively utilise PV electricity and to connect PV systems safely and reliably to the electricity grid, as far as this topic is not addressed by Task 5 of the PVPS Implementing Agreement.
- Activities
- Commercial buildings
- Residential buildings
- Non-building structures
- Guidelines and certification
- PV/T (PV and thermal systems)
- New electrical concepts
- Reliability
- Interconnection issues
- Electrical design issues
- Conclusive Results
- Database of over 100 PV products: www.pvdatabase.com
(act. 2.1/2.2)
- Workshop BIPV Integration Concepts, 11/12 February 1999,
Switzerland, Lausanne (act. 2.1/2.2)
- Workshop on PV Design, 9 May 2001, The Netherlands,
Amsterdam Sustain 2001 (act. 2.1/2.2)
- IEA Joint Working Group on new PV/T system technology (act. 2.5)
- Photovoltaic Building Integration Concepts; Product Review & Proceedings of IEA PVPS Task 7 Workshop (act. 2.1/2.2)
- PV in Non Building Structures - design issues (act. 2.3)
- PV/T report, inventory & road map (act. 2.5)
- New electric concepts (act. 2.6)
- Reliability (act. 2.7)
[ Top ]
Subtask 3: Non-technical barriers in the introduction of photovoltaic power systems in the built environment
- Objectives
Participants assessed the non-technical barriers to be removed to make PV in the built environment an energy-significant power supply option. The purpose of this Subtask was to identify the barriers on one side and the (technical, economic, market) potential of PV in the built environment on the other. The main result of this Subtask will be an executive IEA report on strategies for barrier removal and utilization of the PV potential.
- Activities
- Barrier assessment
- Potential
- Economics
- Strategies
- Conclusive Results
- Literature survey and analysis of non-technical problems for the introduction of building integrated photovoltaic systems
(act. 3.1)
- Potential for building integrated photovoltaics (act. 3.2)
- Guidelines for Economic Evaluation of building integrated
PV power systems (act. 3.3)
- Market Deployment Strategies for PV systems in the built
environment (act. 3.4)
- Institutional Issues: Non technical barriers to the commercialization of PV power systems in the built environment (task 3)
[ Top ]
Subtask 4: Demonstration and dissemination of photovoltaic power systems in the built environment
- Objectives
The results of the other Subtasks were brought to the market by dissemination of collected information and the demonstration of new concepts. Demonstration of mounting and system concepts
takes place through the EPFL Demosite. Results are disseminated by the use of different media (ranging from papers, books, and brochures to new media such as a CD-ROM or a www-site).
Dissemination will also occur through the second and third
International Solar Electric Buildings Conferences and national workshops in conjunction with the semi-annual meetings of the
Task. Furthermore, the possibility of a training and education
program was assessed and resulted in a CD-ROM.
- Activities
- Demosite
- Conference
- Competition
- Dissemination
- Training and education
- Conclusive Results
- Demosite in CH with real-life PV projects, also shown
at www.demosite.ch (act. 4.1)
- 2nd International Solar Electric Building Conference,
8-10 March 2000, Australia, Sydney (act. 4.2)
- Task 7/Task 10 Workshop on the PV in Europe Conference,
7-11 October 2002, Rome, Italy (act. 4.2))
- Task 7 Session on Italian Solar Architecture and Urban Planning Conference - 700 attendants (act. 4.2)
- PV design competition (act. 4.3)
- Internet-site www.task7.org (act. 4.4)
- Slide series (act. 4.4)
- Various presentations on (inter)national conferences (act. 4.4)
- Training & Education package on CD ROM (act. 4.5)
[ Top ]
Deliverables - Where to get them?
All reports are available for download at the publications' section. In addition, all reports and many other deliverables are summarized on CD-ROM, which can be ordered at Novem, The Netherlands.
- Task 7, Project Results and Documents
To be ordered at:
- Task 7 book, “Designing With Solar Power”
To be ordered at:
[ Top ]
Participants
In total, 14 countries participated in Task 7, with representatives from all targeted groups: architects, building and PV industry, PV and building specialists and utilities. Former participants and experts supporting them are listed in Task 7 participants.
[ Top ]
Contact information
For information contact the former Task 7 OA or visit the websites:
- Former Task 7 Operating Agent:
- Task 7 websites:
[ Top ]