The building-integrated photovoltaic market could grow from a niche sector, as new European regulations catalyse the move towards the use of sustainable energy.
The 'net-zero energy buildings' (NZEBs) regulations are likely to lead to widespread adoption of photovoltaics (PV) across the continent, according to a new report by Lux Research. It states by 2021, the market size is estimated to be 6.6GW.
European building-integrated (BI)PV installations in 2011 are expected to be 105MW. The report, Building Integrated Photovoltaics: moving Beyond Showcase Projects, predicts that Europe will overtake the US in installed capacity by 2013, and take an 85% market share by 2016, driven by the NZEB reforms. This shows a sharp rise in the uptake of BIPV as countries take note of the requirements.
Aditya Ranade, research analyst at Lux Research and author of the report states: 'Most [European] member states, especially the bigger ones, are taking the NZEB goals quite seriously. They are approaching this step-by-step, with new targets every three years or so to ensure that, by 2020, they will achieve this goal.'
Sharp increase
The NZEB regulations are part of the Directive on Energy Performance of buildings, which was passed in May 2010. This mandates that all new buildings in the EU must be 'net zero or nearly zero' energy by 2020. The most likely scenario for the BIPV market is that it will move to 1GW of installations, with a $6 billion (€4.4 billion) market, by 2016, but will rise sharply as the legislation comes into effect.
Other governments are looking at NZEB regulations, as Ranade comments: 'Singapore is considering NZEB regulations. In the US, the Energy Independence and Security (EISA) Act passed in 2007 calls for development of a 'net-zero energy commercial building' initiative, with 50% of commercial building stock to be NZEBs by 2040 and all commercial buildings by 2050.'
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Documents and links
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Lux Research report
Building Integrated Photovoltaics: moving Beyond Showcase Projects
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