Photovoltaics

Build on the sun

The guide for designing building-integrated photovoltaics

Photovoltaics, as an important part of the renewable energies mix, is helping to slow down already occurring climate change while providing the earth with affordable energy over the long term.

Photovoltaics captivates with its principle, silent operation, emissions and nearly maintenance free production of power from “nothing”. When integrated into buildings, the systems are at their ideal location, exactly where the power is required and can utilise existing surfaces and wiring. The extent of current photovoltaic applications lags far behind its potential although producers already offer a wide range of technologies and products. In particular, aesthetic, engineering and building legislative problems are considered as the most common reasons for this shortcoming.

It is high time to break open the difficult and complex relationship between high quality architecture on the one side and the requirements of energy-conscious structural engineering the other so that a new language of design can arise. This addition to the DETAIL Practice series clearly demonstrates how the technical, aesthetic and engineering integration of solar systems into buildings can work. The building legislation chapter, a glossary as well as supplementary sources and indexes serve to further knowledge of the subject. Exemplary and realised project examples of different installation variations on roofs and facades round out the book.

• The sun as source of energy
• Engineering and systems
• Yields and feasibility
• Form design with photovoltaics
• Building legislation
• Realised project examples