What is the investment cost level for a BIPV installation?
The cost of a BIPV installation cannot be compared with that of a standard ‘thin film’ PV system as the latter is specifically designed for energy generation as its sole function. A BIPV installation offers a range of other benefits (see point 2) such as aesthetics, corporate identity and function as a façade. The performance criteria and design flexibility of BIPV modules result in higher initial build costs than for standard ‘thin film’ installations in a range from 1.5 to 3 times the price. In a BIPV installation conventional construction elements are being replaced and therefore in the payback calculations of BIPV projects the differential cost of glass-glass PV-modules and the conventional alternative has to be calculated: BIPV Investment = glass-glass PV elements less replaced materials plus the additional electrical equipment and installation. Replaced materials are mainly the alternative glazing units and the sunscreen provisions. These can be significant as they can be adapted
