The value of bipv projects: A deliberative lifecycle analysis

Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) refers to photovoltaic or solar cells that are integrated into the building envelope to generate 'free' energy from sunshine. BIPV product development has been ongoing for the past 30 years, but their practical applications have been limited in China. A reason for slow uptake is that studies conceptually fail to evaluate the value of BIPV in design and construction stages. This research aims to identify the key drivers of cost and value of a BIPV project throughout the production, construction and operation stages of life by analysing the procurement strategies as well as greenhouse gas emissions across the supply chain. A real-life BIPV case drawn from China was studied by using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method. The complete supply chain of the BIPV project was mapped from economic perspective. Deliberate consideration was paid to materials, system elements and processes of the product procurement, project construction and system operation; facilitating the breakdown of value generation into manageable activities. This research could contribute to lean design and construction by highlighting the strategies to encourage value creation across the supply chain.