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IPV
Integrated
Photovoltaic

A showcase of case studies, 
products and tools for IPV

Supported by:

IEA PVPS Task 15 project aims to create an enabling framework to accelerate the penetration of BIPV products in the global market of renewables.

Operazione co-finanziata dall’Unione europea, Fondo Europeo di Sviluppo Regionale, dallo Stato Italiano, dalla Confederazione elvetica e dai Cantoni nell’ambito del Programma di Cooperazione Interreg V-A Italia-Svizzera

Chamber of Commerce of Bolzano

new construction

Building use: 
office
IPV architectural system: 
rainscreen
IPV integration year: 
between 2006 and 2010
Source: 
Eurac Research

Chamber of Commerce of Bolzano

Via Alto Adige 60, Bolzano, Italy

Introduction

Stakeholders

Aesthetic integration

Energy integration

Technology integration

Decision making

Lessons learnt

Data

Producer and installer

Map

Author

In 2004, the Chamber of Commerce design process started. The Province of Bolzano commissioned to Arch. Wolfgang Simmerle with the general design of the building. Several specialists were involved. Energytech Srl and Industrie Team were responsible for the building’s thermal and electric plants, respectively. Frener & Reifer GmbH was chosen as technical responsible for the facade development, including BIPV system design and installation, together with Obrist GmbH team.

STAKEHOLDERS

Main building designer: 

Arch. Wolfgang Simmerle

IPV system designer: 

Frener & Reifer GmbH, Obrist GmbH

IPV components producer: 

SOLARWATT GmbH

Product type: 
Address: 
Maria-Reiche-Straße 2a, Dresden, Germany
Contact: 
info@solarwatt.com +49-351-8895-0
Web: 
https://www.solarwatt.com/
IPV system installer: 

Frener & Reifer GmbH

Address: 
Via Alfred Ammon 31, Bressanone (BZ), Italy
Contact: 
info@frener-reifer.com +39 0472 270 111
Web: 
https://www.frener-reifer.com/home-en/

Obrist GmbH

Address: 
Via Pillhof 7, Appiano (BZ), Italy
Contact: 
info@obrist.bz.it +39 0471 971 800
Web: 
https://www.obrist.bz.it/en
Other stakeholders: 

Energytech Ingenieure Srl, Industrie Team

The Chamber of Commerce building is facing a central thoroughfare in the city of Bolzano. The PV system creates a dark vertical band integrated on a highly visible front, which is characterized by a variation of different façade materials. Components like blasted stainless steel panels, parapets, structural glazing, coupled windows and daylighting elements (Frener & Reifer GmbH) form a single surface, creating a dynamic appearance marked by stringcourses. The same combination of different materials and colours is reproduced inside the building.

The BIPV system installed in the façade is a small plant added to a bigger PV plant applied on the building’s flat roof. Its electric output is fully self-consumed (Obrist GmbH). The produced energy is also used in the efficient thermal energy systems. The heating and cooling demand is supplied through a water-to-water heat pump, a free cooling system and natural gas-fueled condensing boilers (Energytech Srl). The building is CasaClima A+ certificated.

The 13 integrated photovoltaic modules Solarwatt (M234-108 GEG LK) are standard black glass–glass panels made of 108 monocrystalline cells. The ‘glass-glass’ technology, where solar cells are between two glass panes rather than of standard glass and plastic back-sheet setup, is considered as an extremely durable and resistant solution, with an optimal cells protection. The PV plant is the top layer of an insulation element consisting of a metal sheet, an insulating layer and a concrete structure. An air gap (8 cm) is left between the panels and the metal sheet in order to allow natural ventilation. The modules are mounted as common curtain wall component. They are fixed to an aluminium frame made of cross and vertical beams, hiding the wiring system.

The integration of some photovoltaic modules on the highly visible building facade represents a symbol of the Province of Bolzano to the community, highlighting the local energy policy, which aims at sustainability through the exploitation of renewable energy (Frener & Reifer GmbH).

The PV modules are used as opaque facade panels. However, according to the designer (Frener & Reifer GmbH), the integration of semi-transparent modules in the large glazed surfaces of the building could have been an opportunity, assuming the function of a shading system. The close by building casts a partial shadow on the BIPV system. Partial shadow of a PV system might cause severe power losses, since all cells and modules in an array are connected in series. The presence of bypass diodes in the PV modules can partially mitigate this problem, which anyway has to be carefully considered during the design phase.

PROJECT DATA

Project type: 
BIPV SYSTEM DATA
Architectural system: 
Rainscreen
Integration year: 
2007
Active material: 
Monocrystalline silicon
Module transparency: 
System power [kWp]: 
3.3
System area [m²]: 
30
Module dimensions [mm]: 
1,290 x 1,775
Modules orientation: 
South-West
Modules tilt [°]: 
90
BIPV SYSTEM COSTS
Total cost [€]: 
26,800
€/kWp: 
8,120
€/m²: 
890
IPV components producer: 

SOLARWATT GmbH

Product type: 
Address: 
Maria-Reiche-Straße 2a, Dresden, Germany
Contact: 
info@solarwatt.com +49-351-8895-0
IPV system installer: 

Frener & Reifer GmbH

Address: 
Via Alfred Ammon 31, Bressanone (BZ), Italy
Contact: 
info@frener-reifer.com +39 0472 270 111

Obrist GmbH

Address: 
Via Pillhof 7, Appiano (BZ), Italy
Contact: 
info@obrist.bz.it +39 0471 971 800
Via Alto Adige 60, Bolzano, Italy

Eurac Research