BIPV

What is a Building Integrated Photovoltaic or a BIPV?

Building Integrated Photovoltaics serves more than one purpose. BIPVs produce electricity by the piezoelectric effect and serve as protection for any structure. 

BIPVs are installed to provide shed, block sunlight, and give a modern look to any building, all this while producing electricity from sunlight.

Where is a BIPV used?

A BIPV is integrated into a structure like conventional buildings. BIPVs replace glass windows with Solar windows, parking shed rooftops with solar roofs and solar shades in place of translucent covers. All these changes make the look of any structure modern while being extremely useful.

Types of Building Integrated Photovoltaics

Solar panels are silicon-based photovoltaic cells that produce electricity from sunlight. With micro adjustments according to the application, these cells transform into BIPVs. Based on various applications, there are broadly four types of BIPVs.

Image credit: Research Gate

• Solar-Facades: Solar Facades’ integration in building structures keeps the noise and air pollution out and gives any building a visual identity. This all while producing green energy.

• Solar-Window: Solar windows find their application both in residential and commercial properties. These windows look like any other windows but with solar modules.

• Solar-Roofs: Solar roofs like that of Tesla Energy in the USA are becoming popular. In conventional rooftops, these solar tiles replace asphalt tiles. Every tile acts as an individual cell and connects in series to generate electricity.

• PV-Sunshades: Parking lot sheds are the best example of PV-Sunshades. Additionally, these shades protect buildings from direct sunlight.

How does a BIPV work?

BIPVs use opaque or transparent solar cells connected in series to each other to give a substantial amount of current output. These photovoltaics are located in the portion of the building exposed to the sun the most.

What are big manufacturing brands of BIPVs?

Tesla Energy is one major brand in the USA backed by Elon Musk. They manufacture solar cell tiles for residential rooftops. Customers get a variety of tiles according to the required strength and size.

Some other contributors in this niche are:

• D2solar
• Mysolar USA  
• Omnis Power USA Inc  
• Redwood Renewables
• Skyco Skylights
• Solaria
• Sonali Solar USA

Wholesalers

Solar Products Wholesalers 

Wholesaling refers to buying some products or goods directly from its manufacturer usually at a discount and then reselling it to the retailers for a comparatively higher cost than the original. Basically, wholesalers handle products and package them in small quantities and then sell them to retail customers, either for commercial or personal use. 

Many industries have wholesalers, and that will not skip the solar industries. Nowadays, many solar wholesale stores/firms are operating across the globe, making it much easier for retailers to go solar. Sometimes retailers find it hard to reach direct manufacturers of solar products because some companies do not have their solar stores/shops in public, with that they are not also offering solar products per piece. Through wholesale solar stores/shops, these individuals can easily buy the solar products that they need to replace or maintain their solar systems. 

If you are in need of solar product suppliers for an individual purpose, you may visit some solar outsourcing marketplace to get an updated list of solar wholesalers near your location. There are many solar platforms that provide enough information and data about the solar industry in your region, including all the reliable solar wholesalers in town.

Armenia

Solar Market Outlook in Armenia

The solar market industry in Armenia is strong and has showcased consistent growth over the past decade or so. In 2014, the government launched the Scaling Up Renewable Energy Program for Armenia (SREP Armenia) as part of its commitment to promote renewable energy sources. 

This new program serves as an update to the Renewable Energy Roadmap that was launched in 2011. It specifies the targets for the deployment of renewable energy infrastructure in response to the aging conventional energy infrastructure in the country. At the same time, the government wanted to boost the country’s energy security, while also lowering the risk for potential renewable energy investors.

The target for the Armenian government is to achieve 26% of total power generation in the country from renewable sources. When it comes to the solar power market, it has been given a boost by the widespread use of solar farms. In 2019, the first micro solar farm was installed in Armenia and it produced one MW of power with the capacity to be expanded with an additional 0.5 MW of solar power. This solar farm paved the way for more solar installations in the country while also providing more jobs to the locals.

Solar Energy Equipment Supply Capacity in Armenia

There are plenty of solar panel and equipment manufacturers in Armenia, providing a variety of options for consumers and businesses looking to switch to solar power. There is also access to many other distributors and suppliers in neighboring European countries.

Top 8 Major Seaports & Logistics in Armenia

Ports are vital to the economy of Armenia since this is one of the ways that goods are traded and transported in and out of the country. The same goes for solar power equipment. 

There are a few seaports available in Armenia for transporting solar equipment namely

• Abovyan,
• Ararat,
• Masis,
• Yerevan,
• Hrazdan, 
• Kajaran.