Description of Thematic Research Workpackages
Five Thematic Areas have been identified corresponding to the previously discussed barriers to BIPV exploitation. These Areas are grouped into the following two Workpackages:
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Description of Thematic Research Workpackages |
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| WP 3 Technical Aspects of PV Exploitation |
WP 4 Management Aspects of PV Exploitation |
| WP-leader: DBUR |
WP-leader: Solpros |
| Tasks: 1 Aesthet./PV-Integr (task leader DBUR) 2 Environment (task leader White) 3 Electricity (task leader Esbensen |
Tasks: 1 Financing & (task leader KanEnergi) Ownership 2 Management/ICT (task leader Solpros |
| Participants: DBUR Horisun White Esbensen VBKK KTH Naps Familjebostader Essent NCC |
Participants: Solpros Horisun YIT KanEnergi VestAgder Shell IEP NCC Finland NCC |
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The partners represent different interest groups in PV exploitation, so as to
form holistic and multi-knowledge groups, capable of addressing the barriers
from different angles and perspectives. The Task Leaders are responsible for
leading the discussions, compiling results and administrating all work in
relation to each respective area.
Each group has the freedom to develop the contents of its work, but will follow a general work design. The groups will part from the knowledge and experience that the participants have developed through years of work in the area, from participating in EU-funded and national projects and networks, etc. They will analyse each building of the project, both by studying material on solutions and technology, and by visiting the buildings. 
The fact that all involved participants represent the construction industry, is a guarantee that all information developed will be concrete and directly usable in projecting, development or planning of PV installations in the Northern Dimension. All results will be disseminated in the Northern Dimension, e.g. in the form of written material or open spreading of information. Task 3.1 Aesthetics and PV Integration will review the architectural solutions and the integration methods applied in each building project. Background information regarding the planning process is of great interest as many BIPV are stopped already in a very early stage due to negative opinions from city planners or other decision makers involved. It is also valuable to have a look at early architectural sketches to see how the final design was developed. The holistic approach of regarding aesthetics and PV integration as closely interrelated factors will be very beneficial for achieving results. Examples are climate (e.g. snow, ice, heavy rains) and sun inclination (e.g. double function shading) which affects the design and reflects on the characteristics of the installation. Task 3.2 Environment is dedicated to the very important issues regarding materials used in the solar cells and other parts of the PV installations. The concept of Building Integrated PV should include that the solar cells are considered an energy source AND a building component similar to e.g. bricks and concrete. Northern Europe has advanced greatly in the area of environmental legislation and norms and its implementation than other EU-countries, which are to be taken into thorough consideration in PV-NORD. Task 3.3 Power and Electricity will look at the electrical design in each demonstration building project. Which system voltage is selected, how can the connection of modules be solved, what about grounding, lighting and overvoltage protection, what can the criteria for selecting inverters, etc. are some examples of relevant issues to examine. Safety is of course of high priority, as are the relevant electrical codes and installation recommendations. The connection to the utility grid will also be part of Task 3.3. In Task 4.1 Financing and Ownership different financing solutions will be evaluated. Subsidies might come from national or municipality programmes or in the form of rate-based incentives etc. Several of the new innovative financing solutions such as BOOT (Build, Own, Operate and Transfer) and different financing partnership constellations could be transferred to the BIPV sector. The ownership of the PV installations can also vary from each flat having its own system or belonging to a co-operative tenants owned building society. In some cases the local utility company is the owner. Different solutions also have varying effects on taxation. Task 4.2 Management and ICT, finally, focus on how operation and maintenance of the PV systems is solved in the different demonstration buildings. Particular emphasis will be put on the use of tools based on modern information technologies, ICT. In the Swedish buildings A Holmen/Grynnan and B Lysande a local Intranet will be installed and IT will be a general tool for the maintenance of the buildings. The tenants will have access to data showing their energy consumption and it is foreseen that also monitoring of the PV installations will be included. Building C Ekoviikki (Finland) will involve advanced ICT for control of the PV installations in cooperation with the regional utility company. |