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.

Bahrain

Solar Market Outlook in Bahrain

Bahrain is actively seeking to expand its renewable energy sector and there is no better proof of it than with the government program called the National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP). The government has also expressed that it is looking to boost the development of new solar power projects, which showcases the country’s commitment to make solar a huge component of its renewable energy sector.

In 2017, the government announced its plans to build a 100-MW high-tech solar power plant. This project was launched in coordination with the private sector. This was just one of many developments that the government was working on to boost the solar energy market and to add diversity to its energy sources. 

The long-term target for Bahrain is to achieve 5% of renewable energy in the country’s energy mix by 2025. Given the high amount of sunlight that the country receives on an annual basis, it only makes sense why the government is focused on using solar power as one of its primary renewable energy sources. 

Solar Energy Equipment Supply Capacity in Bahrain

There is a good mix of suppliers, manufacturers, and distributors of solar power equipment in Bahrain. It is expected to grow as more investors are going to support solar development in the country. 

Top 8 Major Seaports & Logistics in Bahrain

There are a few options for those looking to transport solar power equipment into Bahrain. You can do this via one of the country’s major seaports:

• Al Manamah Harbor,
• Port of Khalifa Bin Salman,
• Port of Sitra,
• Port of Mina Salman
• Port of Muharraq.