Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) in Southeast Asian Countries: Review of Effects and Challenges

Abstract

Fossil fuel consumption for electricity generation in the building sector is at an all-time high in line with the country’s economic growth. This scenario will increase the global CO2 emissions and large carbon footprints, thus leading to global warming. In recent years, most of the research related to the building sector has focused on the development of new techniques to reduce buildings’ energy consumption through energy conservation, energy efficiency, and the implementation of renewable energy technologies. The introduction of photovoltaic (PV) technology has become the most prominent renewable energy (RE) that can be integrated into building components. Even though the Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) has been available for decades, but its implementation in Southeast Asian countries has not gained widespread acceptance compared to European countries and other parts of Asia. This paper aims to investigate the effects and challenges of BIPV implementation in Southeast Asian Countries (Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines), focusing on climate effects, the initial cost of PV technology, government policies, and initiatives. An in-depth literature review from past research, policies, and reports taken between 2016 to 2021 has been conducted and found that the environmental parameters directly influence the performance of BIPV systems and affect efficiency. This study pointed at Feed-in Tariff (FiT), policies and initiatives offered by the government in Southeast Asian countries are not beneficial and discourage building owners to adopt the BIPV technology or any other RE technology. Governments should revise the current policies to promote and attract more building owners to take part in the efforts to minimize CO2 emissions from the building industry.

A systematic framework to improve the digital green innovation performance of photovoltaic materials for building energy system

“…Hussein et al (2021) pointed out that the high capital cost of PBMs requires the support of technological innovation, so as to promote the wide application of PBMs [22]. Haitham et al (2021) studied the construction cost and policy support of building integrated PV in Southeast Asian countries, and the results showed that technical GI of building integrated PV should be carried out to reduce the high installation cost [23]. Vincenzo et al (2021) studied the photovoltaic solar energy industry and showed through case analysis that some large public utilities have become very active in the photovoltaic industry, and the photovoltaic industry needs continuous innovation and development to meet the market demand [24].…”

Sustainable Urban Energy Solutions: Investigating the Solar Potential of Vertical Façades Amidst Adjacent Buildings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

“…The country's geographical location near the equator ensures a consistent solar radiation supply, making solar energy a viable and renewable resource for power generation [7,8]. According to Rababah et al, [9], Malaysia's solar energy potential is estimated to be around 1022 kWh/m 2 in Kuala Lumpur This availability of solar radiation provides a significant opportunity to harness solar energy and reduce dependence on traditional energy sources. Energy consumption in Malaysia is driven by various factors, including population growth, industrialization, and the need for cooling in hot and humid climates.…”

“…These factors can hinder the widespread implementation of BIPV applications. Furthermore, the lack of awareness and limited knowledge about BIPV among stakeholders, including architects, developers, and policymakers, poses a significant challenge to its adoption in Malaysia [9]. There is a need for educational and promotional efforts to enhance understanding and highlight the benefits of BIPV systems in terms of energy savings, carbon reduction, and long-term cost-effectiveness.…”

“…To address these issues, efforts are being made to promote energy-efficient air conditioning systems and encourage the integration of BIPV technologies in Malaysia. The government has implemented various initiatives, such as energy efficiency labelling programs and building codes, to encourage the use of energy-efficient cooling systems [9]. Additionally, research and development in BIPV technologies, along with awareness campaigns and capacity building, are essential to drive the adoption of BIPV applications, the current air conditioning systems in Malaysia face challenges related to energy consumption and environmental impact, while the adoption of BIPV applications is hindered by design considerations, cost factors, and limited awareness.…”

Model to Predict Quality of Photovoltaic Panels Considering Customers’ Expectations

“…At this stage, it is necessary to determine the photovoltaic panels initially expected. It is preferred to inform the customer about possibilities using BIPV panels (i.e., integrated with building) [7,45,46], or BAPV panels (not integrated with the building) [47][48][49]. The customer can then initially indicate the type of solar panels expected.…”