An International Review of Building Integrated Photovoltaics: Lessons and Recommendations for the Dutch BIPV Ecosystem

Abstract

Building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) is one of the most promising solutions to generate renewable electricity in the built environment. BIPV applications can replace regular building components into prefab integrated components that at the same time generate electricity, contributing to the aesthetics in the built environment. The purpose of this research was twofold, to determine what the Netherlands can learn from the situation for BIPV in other European countries and to assess which countries show interesting opportunities for Dutch BIPV companies. Apart from the Netherlands, the focus countries that were studied in this research are France, Germany, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. A thorough review was done on the existing BIPV stakeholders, the BIPV ecosystem and policy and legislation for BIPV in all focus countries. The information that is provided throughout this research and the conclusions that were drawn should be taken into account by the government, academia and the BIPV industry when further designing the BIPV (export) strategy for the Netherlands. It has become clear that the BIPV sector crosses national boundaries, and should therefore be reviewed and developed from an international perspective.