Solar PV, which was booming in 2011 and has suffered in 2012, is quickly reinventing itself by becoming more ingenuous, claims Cernunnos Homes. Building Integrated PV (BIPV) is fast becoming a more economical and aesthetic way to install Solar PV into buildings and other structures.
The simplest type of BIPV is the PV Slate Roof Tile which replaces typical slate tiles and blends in with the roof.
There are also Solar Greenhouses, which replace the glass roof panes with transparent PV panes that allow through the correct type of light particles which can even enhance plant growth.
Cernunnos Homes managing director Peter McKeown comments "In addition to the roof tiles and greenhouses, there is the Solar Car Port that can charge your electric car - something that workplaces should be considering to allow employees to charge cars for free during work hours!"
McKeown adds "BIPV is a fast growth area. While costs are still relatively high, they have been falling and now make a lot of sense, especially for those worried about aesthetics or feasibility".
