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.

Lebanon

Solar Market Outlook in Lebanon

There is great turmoil in the government and economy of Lebanon with some citing it is on the brink of collapse. While there is a huge unrest in the country’s economy and governance, its solar power efforts are making huge strides. 

By the end of 2020, the Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation reported that the solar capacity of the country has reached 89.84 MW. This figure was short of their initial target for 2020 (100 MW) but this is incredible news for renewable and solar energy proponents given that the figure marks an increase of over 13 MW from the previous year’s solar capacity.

The backbone of Lebanon’s solar power market is the rooftop solar panel systems along with the net-metering regime. As of 2021, there are 865 net-metered systems that have been installed in Lebanon. The government has been working to promote utility-scale solar installations but this hasn’t been successful to date. 

Despite the promising developments in Lebanon’s solar power market, there will be limited investment opportunities available unless the government is able to reform the economy. The energy market is an integral part of that.

Solar Energy Equipment Supply Capacity in Lebanon

There are a few options for solar power equipment manufacturers in Lebanon. There are also many online distributors and suppliers available for those who might find the current options rather too high for their budget. 

Top 8 Major Seaports & Logistics in Lebanon

There are plenty of seaports in Lebanon with which you can transport solar power equipment, especially if you choose to import them. Some of the busiest ports in Lebanon are in

• Beirut,
• Jounieh,
• Tyr,
• Tripoli,
• Sidon,
• Chekka,
• Selaata, 
• Zahrani Terminal.