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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

Brynseng Primary School

new construction

Building use: 
education
IPV integration year: 
between 2016 and 2020
Source: 
IEA PVPS Task 15 project

Brynseng Primary School

Brynsengfaret 10, Oslo, Norvegia

Introduction

Stakeholders

Aesthetic integration

Energy integration

Technology integration

Decision making

Lessons learnt

Data

Producer and installer

Map

Author

The school is a newbuild of around 11,600 m2 net area and six floors, with a large multiuse sportshall at the upper level. It is designed for 840 pupils in year 1-7. The school is built on an old industrial site near the Alna river, with a train and tube station close to the front entrance. The PV is integrated in the south-facing façade on the back of the building, covering 37% of the school façade area.

The partners involved in the project were: the Educational department in Oslo (placing the order and user of the building), Undervisningsbygg Oslo KF (builder and owner), NCC Norway (entrepreneur and project coordinator), HRTB Arkitekter (architect), Norconsult (advisor for energy and environment), Multiconsult (advisor for design simulation, purchase specifications and quality control of the BIPV façade), Issol (BIPV panel supplier), Staticus (BIPV façade projecting and installation), and Steen Jørgensen (electrical services).

Source: Successful Building Integration of Photovoltaics – A Collection of International Projects

STAKEHOLDERS

Main building designer: 

HRTB Arkitekter

IPV system designer: 

Multiconsult, Staticus

IPV components producer: 

ISSOL

Product type: 
Address: 
Rue du Progrès 18, Dison (Liège), Belgium
Contact: 
infopv@issol.eu +32 (0)87 71 90 81
Web: 
http://www.issol.eu/
Other stakeholders: 

Norconsult, ​Steen Jørgensen

The BIPV system is visible from afar, which gives it a demonstration value. Pupils and teachers can follow the power production and consumption in the building, which also gives a pedagogical dimension. A uniform ‘non-technical’ BIPV façade has been achieved using all-black modules and fastening brackets. All module formats were adapted to the façade to give a holistic architectural impression.

As there is no clear regulation in Norway for the definition of nZEB, it was decided that the building should use 70% less energy than the existing technical standard (TEK10), with net delivered energy below 40 kWh/m2/yr. To achieve this, a range of energy solutions were implemented including natural lighting, heat pump and 20 energy wells drilled 250 m deep into the ground. The energy consumption for heating and hot water is covered 90% by the heat pump/ground well system, whereas the PV system covers 25% of the electrical consumption. The estimated annual PV production is 105 MWh (633 kWh/kWp). When the school is in use, all PV electricity is consumed. When it is empty during weekends or vacations, power is exported to the grid within the ‘plus-customer’ limit of 100 kW. Overall self-consumption is expected to be 80-100%.

The modules are of the type ISSOL CENIT220-6112, tailor-made in 26 different sizes adapted to the façade area. The frameless modules consist of standard black mono-crystalline silicon solar cells with black-painted metal wires and busbars, and 4 mm building-approved safety glass at the front and back. The modules are mounted as aired cladding with waterproof insulation at the back, which will dry out in case of moisture intrusion. The BIPV façade fastening method was especially developed for the project by ISSOL and installed by Staticus. They used standard but deeper brackets for façade glass mounting, fastened to the battens of the climate wall, with PV panels hooked onto the brackets. The DC cabling outside is hidden behind the BIPV modules. Inverters are placed inside, distributed in several electrical rooms to reduce DC cable lengths.

The BIPV solution was proposed as an idea during the pre-project phase, which is a late stage in the planning process. The initiative to apply a PV system to the building was taken by the owner Undervisningsbygg Oslo KF, a property company owned by Oslo municipality with the responsibility to build and maintain school buildings in Oslo. The order was placed by the Education Department of Oslo municipality, who will also be the rental user of the building. The final decision was made when financial support from the ‘Energy efficient buildings’ program at the public financer Enova was approved in autumn 2014. The school building was already drawn up as a regular building without PV.  However, new drawings were made. The PV elements were drawn into the façade as the roof area was not available. The architect desired an integrated architectural expression. At that stage, the involved parties did not know much about different technologies and what they could offer. During the project, it became clear that the PV installation had to adhere to both glass façade standards (using safety glass), as well as electrical and fire safety requirements. The latter were quite unclear.

BIPV is still new in Norway, which became apparent during the tender process. There were few reference systems and none of the suppliers had experience with a total delivery of integrated solar cells in façade. The BIPV system was added late in the pre-project, and as a consequence the architect was not able to make all desired adjustments. After the BIPV façade was included, the building was re-designed to place a sportshall on the top of the building which gives some shading on the façade. The main obstacles of this project were costs and unclear regulations. A lot of own effort was used for the coordination and clarification of fastening system specifications and fire safety regulations. The local fire brigade did not have previous knowledge about PV systems, but were happy to receive information and perform an inspection. Important lessons learned include ensuring that the projecting company has sufficient competency, defining regulations and requirements early in the process, knowing who should do the mounting and electrical works, and using clear evaluation criteria for the testing, instrumentation and commissioning of the system. New BIPV projects are now being planned without financial support. This would not have been possible without the knowledge and competency built in this pilot project. The use of standard modules instead of customized sizes and a more efficient process will substantially reduce costs. New offers show that half the cost is possible. The lessons learned are transferred to new projects through the national programme «Futurebuilt» and the research project «Building integrated photovoltaics for Norway».

The local grid company performed an inspection of electrical systems and concluded that a façade installer can mount and connect the PV modules, provided close collaboration with the responsible electrician, a safe-job-analysis, and a sufficiently insulated system with quick-release coupling. The installer had to be registered and deliver a compliance declaration for the projecting work according to the regulation on electrical low voltage systems in Norway. Undervisningsbygg made an operation and maintenance instruction explaining what needs to be taken into consideration with regards to safety.

The PV system was planned within the economic framework of ordinary investment and financial support from Enova. The project would not have been built without Enova funding, which covered the added costs associated with achieving the nZEB goal. Income from the PV system was not a driver for the project. The higher costs were accepted as this was a pilot study. The total cost of the BIPV façade was 792 €/m2. Compared to a normal brick façade, the additional cost of the BIPV system was 469 €/m2. If no financial support is included, the net present value of the BIPV system is negative. With financial support and the 'savings' from the replaced brick façade included, the investment is paid back in 20-25 years. The cost distribution was: BIPV modules 29%, inverters and cabling 16%, installation including materials and work 40%, project management 10%, other 5%.

PROJECT DATA

Project type: 
Coverage of electric consumption [%]: 
25
BIPV SYSTEM DATA
Architectural system: 
facciata ventilata
Integration year: 
2017
Active material: 
silicio monocristallino
Module transparency: 
System power [kWp]: 
166
System area [m²]: 
1046
Module dimensions [mm]: 
26 diverse, da 400 x 664 a 2760 x 980
Modules orientation: 
sud
Modules tilt [°]: 
90
Annual PV production [kWh]: 
105,000
BIPV SYSTEM COSTS
Total cost [€]: 
828,000
€/kWp: 
5,000
€/m²: 
792
IPV components producer: 

ISSOL

Product type: 
Address: 
Rue du Progrès 18, Dison (Liège), Belgium
Contact: 
infopv@issol.eu +32 (0)87 71 90 81
Brynsengfaret 10, Oslo, Norvegia

Anne Gerd Imenes