MASS-IPV

A dramatic rise in the implementation of renewable energy sources is needed if we want to meet European climate protection targets. Amongst renewable sources, photovoltaic (PV) costs have decreased spectacularly over time, turning photovoltaics into one of the most competitive sources of electricity in the EU. To increase its capacity, an economically feasible and space-saving approach is to integrate PV systems into structures that already exist or to build new structures that originally integrate a PV function. These structures can be buildings, where integrated PV (IPV) can easily blend into roofs and façades, but also many other types of infrastructures, such as the surfaces of footpaths and public squares, or even noise barriers.

Despite the many advantages, IPV is still a niche market, with several barriers preventing the massive integration of PV into buildings and infrastructure. In this context, the project MASS-IPV has been conceived as a multidisciplinary action that connects key players along the PV and construction value chains. The final goal of the project is to demonstrate that suitable tools, technologies, and methods, combined with a collaboration framework among key stakeholders, can overcome the barriers preventing the mass deployment of IPV and deliver multifunctional and cost-effective IPV systems for buildings and infrastructure. Five different built objects will be used to demonstrate the technology, representing different construction typologies in five different locations in Europe: an industrial building façade, an infrastructure for noise mitigation, a roof combining PV and vegetation, a lighthouse building and a solution for lightweight façade renovation in multi-family buildings with advanced monitoring and maintenance.

CIDETEC’S role in the project:

CIDETEC’s contribution to the MASS-IPV project involves further developing a fluorine-free anti-soiling coating for lightweight PV modules. CIDETEC will select the most appropriate approach, study the performance of the coating under real conditions, and implement the best solution in a demonstration project for façade renovation.