Gain Solar positions BIPV as a building material rather than a conventional PV product, with emphasis on durability, safety standards, and long service life
Case studies demonstrated BIPV integration across conference centers, retail buildings, hotels, cultural facilities, and residential neighborhoods
Gain Solar said that color, transparency, and module form factors are key to integrating PV systems into architectural designs
As building designers look for low-carbon solutions that preserve architectural intent, building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) is emerging as an alternative to traditional rooftop solar. Unlike conventional PV installations, BIPV components are engineered to provide structural and enclosure functions for decades. As a result, long-term durability, fire resistance, impact resistance, and compliance with regional building standards are treated as core design requirements.
China-based BIPV provider Gain Solar presents BIPV as a construction material rather than an add-on energy system. At a recent TaiyangNews Advanced Solar Module Applications 2025 conference, Millie Tan, International Sales Director at Gain Solar, presented on ‘BIPV Technology and Application in the Field of Green Buildings’. The presentation outlined how building-integrated photovoltaics are being implemented in real buildings. Tan noted an increasing demand for highly customized BIPV solutions in which photovoltaic elements are designed to specific architectural concepts rather than standard module formats.
Gain Solar groups BIPV applications into 4 broad categories:
Roof-integrated BIPV
Façade-integrated BIPV
Building-attached BIPV
Standalone architectural BIPV
She explained that installation approaches across these categories often resemble conventional curtain-wall construction, relying on clips, seals, and secondary support structures. However, performance requirements vary by application. Skylight BIPV systems, for example, typically require thicker glazing and higher structural strength than façade systems, particularly in enclosed public buildings where waterproofing and safety are critical.
Conference Centers and Large-Scale Public Buildings
Roof-integrated BIPV, where photovoltaic systems replace conventional roofing materials, featured prominently in several large public building projects presented by Tan. At the Hong Kong Jockey Club racetrack facility in Guangzhou, the BIPV system was implemented as a large-area photovoltaic skylight. Tan explained that the company used digitally printed PV glass for this facility, with individual panels designed based on the building’s 3D model. This approach allowed both color and light transmission to be adjusted to meet the needs of the space, including considerations for animals.
In Wuxi, Gain Solar implemented colored photovoltaic glass skylights at an international convention center, replacing traditional metal roof panels. The company said the design was inspired by local Taihu stone and formed part of the building’s broader ultra-low-energy concept.
Tan explained a similar approach at the Guangzhou International Convention Center, where BIPV systems were integrated into a BIM-based zero-carbon design influenced by Lingnan garden architecture.
She noted that in such projects, BIPV contributes not only to on-site power generation, but also to daylight performance, thermal control, and overall building identity.
Retail and Urban Architecture
Façade-integrated BIPV, where photovoltaic systems are used as curtain walls or exterior cladding, featured in several commercial and urban projects presented by Gain Solar. One example was the Beijing Adidas Flagship Store, where the company replaced a conventional curtain wall with photovoltaic façade elements. Tan said a subdued grey color palette was selected so the PV façade would match the building exterior. Rather than drawing attention to the solar technology, the PV elements were integrated into the 3-dimensional (3D) façade design.
In Shanghai, a zero-carbon exhibition hall used dark-toned BIPV façade products on its west elevation, integrating photovoltaic functionality into a brick-like exterior texture. Tan described the project as an example of how BIPV can support zero-carbon building concepts without altering conventional urban aesthetics.
Customized and Site-Specific Applications
Standalone architectural BIPV, where solar installations play a primarily visual or design-driven role, was illustrated through highly customized projects tailored to the local context. In Switzerland, a residential neighborhood development used customized photovoltaic curtain walls to form a large-scale artistic façade.
Building-attached BIPV, where photovoltaic elements support auxiliary building functions, was demonstrated through applications such as integrated sunshades and structural elements. One example from Hong Kong showed BIPV used as sunshades at a canoe tourist center, where the structural design was adapted to withstand strong winds and coastal climatic conditions.
At a hotel project in Tibet, located at an altitude of around 3,000 m, Gain Solar said it replaced conventional roofing materials with standardized solar roof tiles. The company noted that the system was designed to operate reliably in remote, high-altitude conditions while supporting the project’s low-carbon objectives.
Tan emphasized that the main barrier to wider BIPV adoption is not technology, but the timing of design integration. Unlike conventional PV systems that can be added after construction, BIPV must be incorporated at the earliest architectural design stage.
As building regulations tighten and carbon targets become more stringent, Tan suggested that BIPV’s role will continue to expand, particularly in projects where energy generation, building performance, and architectural expression are expected to coexist within the same envelope.
The full presentation is available on the TaiyangNews YouTube channel here.
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