Fraunhofer group develops building façade units with integral solar panels

31 Dec 2024

Recyclable system combines power generation, weather protection, and insulation.

A German research partnership has developed a prefabricated façade building element with integrated photovoltaics that combines power generation, weather protection and thermal insulation. The development group comprises the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) and Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology (UMSICHT). The partners state that by eliminating the need for an additional substructure for the solar modules, “this element can save large amounts of building materials, while speeding up installation during retrofits at the same time.”

Visitors to the BAU, a building industry trade show taking place in Munich from January 13 to 17, 2025, can view two variants of the BIPV façade elements at the Fraunhofer Building Innovation Alliance’s stand. The element was developed as part of the Fraunhofer flagship project “BAU-DNS”.

The researchers developed two versions of this façade element: the insulation material of one is made of hemp fibers and the second with a mushroom material. The size of both is 1.0 x 1.5 square meters. The insulation is inserted into the BIPV façade element in such a way that the individual components and materials can be re-separated in the future.

“Both insulation materials are made from naturally renewable raw materials, making them CO₂-neutral and sustainable,” said Dr. Holger Wack, group manager for building materials development at UMSICHT. “The materials are suitable for use in façades and their fire behavior is compatible with building façade regulations. The mushroom material can also be produced from agricultural industry waste and is therefore especially resource efficient,” he added.

The façade system allows the individual BIPV façade elements to be dismantled independently of its adjacent elements. BIPV façades can therefore be implemented quickly and easily. By eliminating the need for a substructure, large amounts of materials are saved compared to classic constructions for BIPV elements with curtain-type, rear-ventilated façades.

The scientists installed the first prototypes, produced at ISE, on a Fraunhofer IBP building in Holzkirchen at the end of October 2024. The PV façade elements are now undergoing intensive monitoring to test their electrical yield, durability, temperature, humidity and thermal insulation properties during operation in real world conditions.

“With this first demonstrator, we have already been able to confirm the ease of assembly without special aids like holding systems and the associated fast assembly speed of less than 1.5 hours per module,” said Dr. Jan-Bleicke Eggers, team leader of Solar Building Envelope Technology at ISE.