1. Jose M. Vega de Seoane
Project: BFIRST – Building-Integrated
Fibre-Reinforced Solar Technology
Grant agreement: n° [296026]
Programme: [FP7/2007-2013] [FP7/2007-2011]
Consortium:
Coordinator: TECNALIA Research & Innovation
EU PV CLUSTER – 26th-28th November 2013
2. 1. Summary
2. BFIRST project: Concept & Objectives
3. Description of Work
4. Progress so far
5. Future Work
INDEX
4. 1. Summary
o BFIRST: Building-Integrated Fibre-Reinforced Solar Technology
“BFIRST project aims to answer the demands of the BIPV market, by
developing flexible, lightweight and adaptable photovoltaic systems,
based on a solar cells encapsulation technology within glass fibre-
reinforced composite materials”
EU PV CLUSTER – 26th-28th November 2013
6. o Concept
Why BFIRST?
BIPV demands flexibility and adaptability in terms
of design, aesthetics and integration
Glass based modules are very limited in this sense
New materials are required to fulfil such needs
2. BFIRST project: Concept & Objectives
EU PV CLUSTER – 26th-28th November 2013
7. o Concept: composite materials as an alternative to glass
Glass fibre
+
Composite PV module
+
Transparent resin
PV cells
2. BFIRST project: Concept & Objective
EU PV CLUSTER – 26th-28th November 2013
8. o Objectives (1/3)
Main goal:
“Development and demonstration of a set of standardized
multifunctional photovoltaic products for building integration, based
on a recently developed technology for solar cells encapsulation
within glass fibre-reinforced composite materials”
2. BFIRST project: Concept & Objectives
EU PV CLUSTER – 26th-28th November 2013
9. o Objectives (2/3)
Specific objectives:
To obtain the same efficiency levels of traditional modules
Enhanced properties of PV modules due to: monolithic
structures, light weight, modularity, flexibility in shapes,
finishes and colours.
Multifunctional performance complying with building and
photovoltaic standards.
2. BFIRST project: Concept & Objectives
EU PV CLUSTER – 26th-28th November 2013
10. 2. BFIRST project: Concept & Objectives
o Objectives (3/3)
Demonstration and characterization of BIPV products in three
real buildings located in different sites (with different climates
and general frameworks for BIPV).
Development of BIPV elements with costs comprised between
1.5 and 2.0 €/Wp
Up-scaling of production processes for real-scale prototype
fabrication.
Detection of current and future harmonization needs for
standardisation of BIPV components and contribution to their
development.
EU PV CLUSTER – 26th-28th November 2013
12. 3. Description of Work (1/4)
Stage 1
• Design of the BIPV components
Stage 2
• Development of the BIPV components
based on glass fibre-reinforced materials
Stage 3
• Manufacturing & Demonstration at real
buildings in different locations
EU PV CLUSTER – 26th-28th November 2013
13. 3. Description of Work (2/4)
o Stage 1: Design of five BIPV components
Concept design of
1. Ventilated Façade
2. Curtain Wall
3. Skylight
4. Roofing Shingle
5. Shading Element
Portfolio
Regulatory framework analysis for BIPV in Belgium, Greece & Spain
o Status of EU directives and standards applicable to BIPV
o Status of building codes
o Specific analysis for the BIPV framework
Detailed design of the chosen concepts for each BIPV element
o CAD design of chosen concepts
o Design validations: mechanical and thermal simulations
EU PV CLUSTER – 26th-28th November 2013
14. 3. Description of Work (3/4)
o Stage 2: Development of the BIPV components
based on glass fibre-reinforced materials
Set-up of experimental techniques for the fabrication of BIPV products
(scale-up)
Fabrication of samples for laboratory characterization
Laboratory characterization following building codes and construction
standards
Laboratory characterization following PV standards
EU PV CLUSTER – 26th-28th November 2013
15. 3. Description of Work (4/4)
o Stage 3: Manufacturing & Demonstration at real
buildings in different locations
Manufacturing of BIPV systems for demonstration
Installation of BIPV systems in real demonstration buildings
Monitoring at experimental buildings and real demonstration buildings
EU PV CLUSTER – 26th-28th November 2013
17. 4. Progress so far
o Stage 1: Design of the BIPV components (1/5)
Product 1. VENTILATED FAÇADE
o Designed according to building codes and PV
standards (IEC 61215)
o Flat module with curved transitions
Features:
Dimensions: 1652 x 1209 mm2
Thickness: 3 mm
Weight: 10 kg
Power: 270 W
Power/m2: 135 W/m2
Installed power: 2.45 kW
o Monolithic & lightweight, composite-based
Ventilated Façade
EU PV CLUSTER – 26th-28th November 2013
18. 4. Progress so far
o Stage 1: Design of the BIPV components (2/5)
Product 2. Roofing Shingle
Features:
Dimensions: 1353 x 905 mm2
Thickness: 3 mm
Weight: 6.4 kg
Power: 144 W
Power/m2: 118 W/m2
Installed power: 12 kW
o Designed according to building codes
and PV standards (IEC 61215)
o Flat module with curved transitions
o Monolithic & lightweight, composite-
based Roofing Shingle
EU PV CLUSTER – 26th-28th November 2013
19. 4. Progress so far
o Stage 1: Design of the BIPV components (3/5)
Product 3. Curtain Wall
Features:
Dimensions: 2472 x 753 mm2
Thickness: 3 mm
Weight: 9.7 kg
Power: 180 W
Power/m2: 97 W/m2
Installed power: 1.8 kW
o Designed according to building codes
and PV standards (IEC 61215)
o Substitution of the internal glass of a
standard triple glazing solution
EU PV CLUSTER – 26th-28th November 2013
20. 4. Progress so far
o Stage 1: Design of the BIPV components (4/5)
Product 4. Skylight
Features:
Dimensions: 1540 x 1139 mm2
Thickness: 3 mm
Weight: 9.2 kg
Power: 75 W
Power/m2: 43 W/m2
Installed power: 1.35 kW
o Designed according to building codes
and PV standards (IEC 61215)
o Mobile skylight concept
EU PV CLUSTER – 26th-28th November 2013
21. 4. Progress so far
o Stage 1: Design of the BIPV components (5/5)
Product 5. Shading Element
Features (planar design, 1 sub module):
Dimensions 1209 x 203 mm2
Thickness: 3 mm
Weight: 1.3 kg
Power: 31.5 W
Power/m2: 128 W/m2
Installed power: 1.2 kW
o Designed according to building codes
and PV standards (IEC 61215)
o Modular shading element
EU PV CLUSTER – 26th-28th November 2013
22. 4. Progress so far
o Stage 1: Validation of the BIPV system designs
Mechanical and thermal simulations of the BIPV systems
EU PV CLUSTER – 26th-28th November 2013
24. 5. Future Work
o We are about to start STAGE 2. Development of the BIPV components
based on glass fibre-reinforced materials
Scale-up process & manufacturing of the first prototypes will begin soon (mid
December)
Laboratory characterization following building codes, CPDs and PV standards
o STAGE 3. Manufacturing & Demonstration at real buildings in different
locations. Beginning of 2014.
Manufacturing of real samples
Installation in real buildings (Belgium, Greece & Spain)
Monitoring of the installations
EU PV CLUSTER – 26th-28th November 2013