Fraunhofer ISE and UMSICHT have created an innovative prefabricated facade component, combining photovoltaic power generation, strong weather protection, and high-performing thermal insulation into a single, unified unit. This inventive Building-Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) solution is set to alter sustainable building methods, providing architects and facade planners a new model for design and construction.

Principal Characteristics

• Standardized Proportions: Each section measures 1.0 x 1.5 meters, allowing for easy incorporation and modular planning.
• Material Adaptability: Offered with insulation cores of either hemp fibers or mushroom-based material, both CO2-neutral and completely recyclable, giving a variety of sustainable choices.
• Structural Efficiency: The pre-made design removes the requirement for a separate substructure, thus lessening material use and simplifying setup.
• Quick Installation: Achieves rapid placement, making it particularly suitable for both new buildings and modification projects, with setup times of less than 1.5 hours per section observed in initial runs.
• Modular Adaptability: Individual panels can be independently taken apart, improving adaptability and ease of upkeep.

This advanced BIPV facade system markedly departs from traditional techniques by merging multiple functions within a single, pre-engineered piece. This consolidation reduces material expenses, streamlines on-site work, and quickens project timelines. Initial prototypes were successfully placed on a Fraunhofer IBP building in late October 2024, showing the system’s practical feasibility.

Dr. Jan-Bleicke Eggers of Fraunhofer ISE, stressed the system’s user-friendliness, stating, “Our trials confirm the direct assembly procedure, eliminating the necessity for specialized tools or auxiliary holding systems, which results in a quick installation pace.“

The inventive insulation materials are a main feature. Dr. Holger Wack from Fraunhofer UMSICHT, stated, “The use of naturally renewable raw materials in both insulation types makes certain they are carbon-neutral and circular. The mushroom-based material, specifically, makes use of agricultural waste, improving resource efficiency.“

The prototypes are undergoing thorough observation to carefully assess their electrical performance, durability, thermal behavior, and insulative qualities under real-world conditions. A procedure explanation is also in growth to aid future applications of this system.

This new BIPV facade component shows a significant advance in sustainable construction, giving a practical and aesthetically adaptable solution that matches the demands of current architecture and environmentally aware design concepts.