Observations and Lessons Learned From Installing Residential Roofing-Integrated Photovoltaics

Abstract

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Next Generation Integrated PV Products Cost and Workflow Analysis (Final Report)

“…For comparison, a previous time and motion study documented a time of 6.9 worker-hours per kW for conventional racked and mounted rooftop PV (see Figure 1). The shorter RIPV installation times are consistent with previous studies suggesting that RIPV could be installed faster than conventional rooftop PV (Cook et al 2023). However, this is based on an analysis of installing a traditional racked and mounted PV project prior to 2014, and it is likely that installation practices have improved since then.…”

“…In RIPV, the PV product is incorporated into or replaces the roofing material. RIPV systems can use conventional crystalline or thin-film technologies, may be aesthetically attractive alternatives to traditional racked and mounted PV systems, and may increase building property values (Cook et al 2023). These products also have the potential to provide customer acquisition, labor, and equipment cost savings over traditional racked and mounted residential rooftop PV.…”

“…These products also have the potential to provide customer acquisition, labor, and equipment cost savings over traditional racked and mounted residential rooftop PV. Several companies have recently introduced RIPV products (Cook et al 2023). In 2022, data from the state of California, the largest solar market nationwide, showed Tesla was the market leader, representing 94% of RIPV capacity installed that year through its Solar Roof offering (Feldman et al 2023).…”

“…The data collected reflected that residential RIPV has underperformed relative to market deployment projections (Cook et al 2023;Heinstein et al 2014), and market uptake remains low compared to conventional rooftop PV. According to data from Barbose et al (2021), residential BIPV installations accounted for as much as 1% of all residential rooftop PV installations from 2008-2010, but BIPV market shares subsequently declined through 2016.…”

“…According to data from Barbose et al (2021), residential BIPV installations accounted for as much as 1% of all residential rooftop PV installations from 2008-2010, but BIPV market shares subsequently declined through 2016. Residential BIPV market shares have since increased, growing from a low of around 0.005% in 2016 to about 0.4% in 2021 (Cook et al 2023).…”