Innovative envelope
The Innovative Envelope team, dealing with innovative envelope systems for energy-efficient buildings and active solar envelopes (Building Integrated Photovoltaics-BIPV) as the Swiss competence centre for BIPV (more information can be found at www.solarchitecture.ch).
The team specialises in applied research aimed at the development, testing and market introduction of new multifunctional photovoltaic products, which in addition to renewable electricity production perform a purely architectural function (solar control, thermal protection, waterproofing) as part of the building envelope.
The main activities are related to:
In 2019, some team members created and founded the start-up iWin - innovative windows, with the aim of developing and commercialising an innovative window integrating a photovoltaic Venetian blind. The collaboration with the start-up continues thanks to various federal and international funding (Innosuisse and Horizon Europe projects).
The team is also involved in basic and continuing education activities. Several members of the BIPV team are involved as experts in various European and international technical groups, in scientific and editorial committees, and are responsible for the development and proposal of new standards and regulations in the photovoltaic and building sectors.
The main activities are related to:
- Development, validation and demonstration of innovative multifunctional building envelope solutions, designed on the basis of an interdisciplinary approach to ensure the market introduction of high quality, efficient and economically competitive products.
- Product validation, performance analysis, monitoring in small-scale mock-ups, demonstration in real buildings, testing, monitoring and analysis of BIPV integrated photovoltaic modules/systems (roof tile, façade cladding, window or semi-transparent element, solar shading or parapet) in partnership with industries and professionals involved in the production and building process.
- Development of methodologies for the analysis of economic competitiveness, market, stakeholders, potential and trends favouring the market transfer and acceptance of solar systems in the built environment as well as integration in the building process, with experiences both in Europe and in other countries (Status Report Europe and India).
- Development, in cooperation with other partners, of innovative formats for training, coaching, experiential learning and stakeholder engagement for companies or professionals
- Support for the development of digital models, libraries and digital twin platforms for informative digital modelling and monitoring of BIPV systems in the BIM field.
- In collaboration with SUPSI's PVLab, the team supports companies, institutions and professionals with performance tests in the laboratory and in the field and through innovative tests on the safety and durability of integrated photovoltaic modules and systems, defining a quality plan for both electrical engineering and construction.
In 2019, some team members created and founded the start-up iWin - innovative windows, with the aim of developing and commercialising an innovative window integrating a photovoltaic Venetian blind. The collaboration with the start-up continues thanks to various federal and international funding (Innosuisse and Horizon Europe projects).
The team is also involved in basic and continuing education activities. Several members of the BIPV team are involved as experts in various European and international technical groups, in scientific and editorial committees, and are responsible for the development and proposal of new standards and regulations in the photovoltaic and building sectors.