The document discusses the benefits and applications of Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) solar systems, highlighting their multifunctional properties that combine structural and energy generation roles. BIPV solutions provide cost savings, aesthetic enhancements, compliance with sustainable building standards, and reduced energy consumption for lighting and cooling. It also outlines the maintenance requirements and operational performance of solar PV systems, emphasizing the advantages of integrated designs over traditional rooftop installations.

1. Rooftop BIPV Solar
- multifunctional savings
Leak Proof New Design
• savings due to multifunctional BIPV
• GRIHA / LEED compliance
• lower lighting energy cost (10 to 20 %)
• lower cooling energy cost (10 to 40 %)
• increase PV-suitable space on buildings
• increased aesthetics
• cost saving in regular rooftop materials
• increased Natural Light (20 to 40 %)
• more power per site
• simplified installation
• easier to maintain (with pathways)

2. Installations of solar photovoltaic (PV)
technologies on building rooftops are
common in some parts of the world.
The vast majority of these systems
are composed of modules that are
mounted off the surfaces of roofs using
different types of racking hardware.
System designs are most influenced by
PV performance considerations, and
aesthetics are often secondary.
But growing consumer interest in
distributed PV technologies and
industry competition to reduce
installation costs are stimulating the
development of multifunctional PV
products that are integrated with
building materials.
BIPV offers a number of potential
benefits, and there have been efforts to
develop cost-competitive products for
more than 30 years.
BIPV is a multifunctional product
(not a combination of independent
products) that generates electricity
and replaces traditional building
materials by serving as a significant
weather barrier on Factory / Office /
Residential building surfaces.
@ Residences @ Factories
Rooftop Solar PV Solutions

3. BIPV Solar Solutions - rooftop & elevation

4. BIPV Structural work

5. Description
Regular Solar
Rooftop
BIPV Solar Rooftop
Advantage of BIPV
Rooftop
Solar PV - construct
Glass + Tedlar + Aluminium
backframe
Glass + Glass (PVB
encapsulation)
More stronger (due to
lamination) and offers
multiple benefits
Funtional - Benefits
• Protection against nature
• Protection & Security
• Enclosed Envelope
• Solar Power Generation
• all the benefits
• Improved Aesthetics
• Heat reduction from Roof
• Natural Light
comprehensive solution with
more functional advantages
Aesthetics
Most of the times, the roof /
rooftop loses its aesthetics and
spoil the entire look of the
building / factory
Great Aesthetics and gives an
integrated visual appeal
Better Real Estate Value
- due to enhanced visual
appeal
Light Transparency Not Possbile Yes. 20 to 40 %
More Natural Light - savings
in Lighting Energy (as high
10 to 20 %)
UV & IR filtering Not available Yes
Heat reduction - so lower
cooling cost - due to UV &
IF filter
Roof
Need metal sheet roofing Not needed
Savings - since no metal
sheet roofing needed
Seperate Structure for Metal
sheeting
Not needed Same as above
Perennial problem if leaking
happens due to bolt holes
Problem do not arise
No costly break-downs & no
loss of productivity
Structure for PV
Another seperate structure
needed for PV Mounting; also
it should be atleast 2 to 3 feet
taller from the base structure -
for maintenance
Integrated - Single & Simple
structure
Savings on having an
integrated structure
Electrical Connections
External - and clearly visible,
and sometimes become
dangerous due to exposure
Electrical connections either
will go inside the frame, or
will come along the frames in
the interior side of the roof
Easier & Simpler to Service
incase of any electrical
disjoint, etc.
Heat Reduction
Nothing by itself. Have to
have extra PUF / XPS /
Thermocole padding etc
Can use a DGU construction
(double glazing unit) having a
spacer with air - cuts down 75
% of heat from the roof, still
giving natural light
Savings in money due to
reduction of heat upto 70%
through the roof
Install Capacity
Will waste more space per
kW, since a seperate structure;
also due to its positioning for
shadow-effects.
More kW per unit of area.
since there is no space wasted
and no problem in shadow
effects
Generation of more kWh
per area - resulting in lower
State Electricity Board
charges
Maintenance - hassles
Should have the PV structure
with a minimum gap at least
3 feet high, so that a person
could go & do electrical
maintenance or others
No problem - if with pathways
on the structure - then even
cleaning is easier as like
cleaning any Glass-Skylights
Easier, Less Costly and More
Safety, when servicing &
maintenance.

6. The sun delivers its energy to us in two main forms: heat and light. There are two
main types of solar power systems, namely, solar thermal systems that trap heat to
warm up water, and solar PV systems that convert sunlight directly into electricity
as shown in Figure.
When the PV modules are exposed to sunlight, they generate direct current (“DC”)
electricity. An inverter then converts the DC into alternating current (“AC”)
electricity, so that it can feed into one of the building’s AC distribution boards
(“ACDB”) without affecting the quality of power supply.
Types of Solar PV System
Solar PV systems can be classified based on the end-use application of the technology.
There are two main types of solar PV systems: grid-connected (or grid-tied) and off-
grid (or stand alone) solar PV systems.
Grid-connected (ON-Grid) solar PV systems
The main application of solar PV in Singapore is grid-connected, as Singapore’s main
island is well covered by the national power grid. Most solar PV systems are installed
on buildings or mounted on the ground if land is not a constraint. For buildings,
they are either mounted on the roof or integrated into the building. The latter is
also known as Building Integrated Photovoltaics (“BIPV”). With BIPV, the PV
module usually displaces another building component, e.g. window glass or roof/
wall cladding, thereby serving a dual purpose and offsetting some costs.
The configuration of a grid-connected solar PV system is shown in Figure 2.
A building has two parallel power supplies, one from the solar PV system and the
other from the power grid. The combined power supply feeds all the loads connected
to the main ACDB. The ratio of solar PV supply to power grid supply varies,
depending on the size of the solar PV system. Whenever the solar PV supply exceeds
the building’s demand, excess electricity will be exported into the grid. When there
is no sunlight to generate PV electricity at night, the power grid will supply all of
the building’s demand. A grid-connected system can be an effective way to reduce
your dependence on utility power, increase renewable energy production, and
improve the environment.
Off-Grid connected solar PV systems
Off-grid solar PV systems are applicable for areas without power grid. Currently,
such solar PV systems are usually installed at isolated sites where the power grid
is far away, such as rural areas or off-shore islands. But they may also be installed
within the city in situations where it is inconvenient or too costly to tap electricity
from the power grid. For example, in Singapore, several URA parking sign lights are
powered by off-grid solar PV systems. An off-grid solar PV system needs deep cycle
rechargeable batteries such as lead-acid, nickel-cadmium or lithium-ion batteries to
store electricity for use under conditions where there is little or no output from the
solar PV system, such as during the night, as shown in Figure 3 below.
Solar PV System - an Overview

7. This section gives a brief description of the solar PV technology and the common technical terms
used. A solar PV system is powered by many crystalline or thin film PV modules. Individual PV
cells are interconnected to form a PV module. This takes the form of a panel for easy installation.
PV cells are made of light-sensitive semiconductor materials that use photons to dislodge electrons
to drive an electric current. There are two broad categories of technology used for PV cells, namely,
crystalline silicon, as shown in Figure 4 which accounts for the majority of PV cell production;
and thin film, which is newer and growing in popularity.
Crystalline cells are made from ultra-pure silicon raw material such as those used in
semiconductor chips. They use silicon wafers that are typically 150-200 microns (one
fifth of a millimetre) thick. Thin film is made by depositing layers of semiconductor material
barely 0.3 to 2 micrometres thick onto glass or stainless steel substrates. As the semiconductor
layers are so thin, the costs of raw material are much lower than the capital equipment and
processing costs.
Apart from aesthetic differences, the most obvious difference amongst PV cell technologies is in
its conversion efficiency, as summarised in Table 1. For example, a thin film amorphous silicon
PV array will need close to twice the space of a crystalline silicon PV array because its module
efficiency is halved, for the same nominal capacity under Standard Test Conditions1 (STC) rating.
For crystalline silicon PV modules, the module efficiency is lower compared to the sum of the
component cell efficiency due to the presence of gaps between the cells and the border around the
circuit i.e., wasted space that does not generate any power hence lower total efficiency.
Effects of Temperature
Another important differentiator in solar PV performance, especially in hot climates, is the
temperature coefficient of power. PV cell performance declines as cell temperature rises. For
example, in bright sunlight, cell temperatures in Singapore can reach over 70ºC, whereas PV
modules are rated at a cell temperature of 25ºC. The loss in power output at 70ºC is therefore
measured as (70 - 25) x temperature coefficient. Most thin film technologies have a lower negative
temperature coefficient compared to crystalline technologies. In other words, they tend to lose less
of their rated capacity as temperature rises. Hence, under Singapore’s climatic condition, thin film
technologies will generate 5-10% more electricity per year.
Solar PV Technology
Mono-Crystalline
Poly-Crystalline
Thin - Film

8. Solar PV Output Profile
Solar PV only produces electricity when sunlight is available. The output of a solar PV system varies with its rated output,
temperature, weather conditions, and time of the day. The power output profile of the PV installation as shown in Figure, at a
selected test site in Singapore collected over a period from 2002-2004, in terms of its capacity factor[2]
, shows a high variation
of solar PV output.
[2]
PV Output capacity factor = Ratio of the actual output of the PV installation at time (t) over its output if it had operated at
full rated output.
The amount of electricity you are able to generate from a solar PV system depends not only on the availability of
sunshine but also on the technology you choose to install. For example, a typical 10-kW rooftop solar PV system
in Singapore would produce about 11,000 to 12,500 kWh annually using crystalline PV modules, and 12,000
to 14,500 kWh annually with amorphous silicon thin film PV modules.
Operations of Solar PV Systems
The most practical indicator of the performance of the solar PV systems can be obtained from the remote monitoring and
data logging software supplied by most inverter manufacturers. The data logging software will record daily, monthly, and
annual output for comparison of the actual system performance against the expected system performance. See Figure for typical
performance monitoring displays.

9. It is recommended that preventive inspection and maintenance works are carried out every six to twelve months. The PV modules
require routine visual inspection for signs of damage, dirt build-up or shade encroachment. Solar PV system fixtures must be
checked for corrosion. This is to ensure that the solar PV system is safely secured.
While the inverter’s functionality can be remotely verified, only on-site inspection can verify the state of lightning surge arrestors,
cable connections, and circuit breakers. The following table shows some recommendations on the preventive maintenance works on
the components and equipment, and the corresponding remedial actions to be carried out by qualified personnel.
BIPV Solar PV Glazing Maintenance
Components Description Action
Water-Proof Sealing
of the BIPV and
Structure
• check structure for physical wear & tear
• check for sagging / deformation
• check for damage in the seal / sealant
• check for rain water seepage
• if, then give support / reweld / paint
• if, then give support / reweld
• if seepage, recommend deseal & reseal
• if, recommend deseal & reseal
P V Modules
• check for dust / debris on surface of P V
Modules
• Check for physical damage of PV panel
• for Loose cable connection between PV
modules, PV arrays, etc
• for cable conditions
• Wipe Clean. Do not use any solvents other
than Water
• Recommend replacement if found damaged
• Retighten Connections
• Replace cable if necessary
Solar Inverter
• check Functionality - automatic
disconnection upon loss of grid power
connection
• check ventialation condition
• for Loose cable terminations
• for abnormal operating temperature
• Recommend replacement if functionality fails
while testing
• clear dust & dirt in ventilation system
• tighten connections / terminations
• recomment replaements
Cabling
• check for cable conditions - wear & tear
• check cable terminals for burnt marks, hot
spots or loose connections
• Replace cable if necessary
• Tighten connections or recommend replace-
ments
Junction Boxes
• check cable terminations - wear & tear or
loose connections
• check for warning notices
• check for physical damages
• tighten or recommend replacement
• replace - when - warning notice if need-be
• recomment replacement
Electrial Isolation • check functionality • if found defective - recommend replacement
Silicone structural glazing is a method utilizing a silicone adhesive to attach glass, metal, or other panel material to the structure of
a building.
Windload and other impact loads on the façade are transferred from the glass or panel, through the structural silicone sealant to the
structure of the building. The silicone sealant must maintain adhesive and cohesive integrity as the façade is subjected to windload
and thermal stresses.
Structural glazing (SG) is a high performance application and not all silicone sealants are suitable for this application. Only silicone
sealants which have been developed and tested specifically for structural glazing applications should be used.

10. Accredited Resellers & Associates :
• New Delhi
• Mumbai
• Pune
• Bangalore
• Hyderabad
• Cochin
• Chennai
and other cities - Pan India