Cost-effective High-power Density BIPV Modules

(June 2018 - May 2022)

Principal Investigator: Dr Kong Fai TAI (SERIS, NUS) 
Co-PIs: Dr Jai Prakash SINGH (SERIS, NUS), Prof HENG Chye Kiang
Industry Partners: Photovoltaic Foundry Pte Ltd, City Developments Limited (CDL) and REC Solar Pte Ltd

Project Overview

This Solar Competitive Research Programme (SCRP) project focused on developing cost-effective, high-efficiency Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) modules tailored for Singapore's urbanised environment. The project addressed Singapore's ambitious solar energy targets, aiming for 350MW of solar power adoption by 2020 and 3GW by 2030, while also supporting the goal of greening 80% of buildings in Singapore by 2030.

Key Objectives

  • Development of high-performance shingling photovoltaic (PV) modules capable of delivering up to 15% greater power output compared to conventional PV modules.
  • Creation of aesthetically appealing BIPV modules featuring adjustable visual appearances using digital ceramic printing technology.
  • Integration of smart functionalities, including module-level power electronics (MLPE) for optimisation, monitoring, and rapid shutdown capabilities.
  • Enabling seamless integration with prefabricated and precast building technologies (PPVC) for cost-effective deployment.


Key Achievements

The project successfully developed innovative shingling module technology that significantly increases module efficiency by optimising cell packing density and reducing resistive losses. The team also pioneered the integration of BIPV modules with Singapore's emerging prefabricated construction methods, addressing both technical and architectural requirements for building integration (see Figure 1).

Figure 1: Actual construction process and prefabricated unitised BIPV envelope as built. Each PV-integrated unitised facade panel is of a manageable weight, hence allowing installation to occur in building interiors, like unitised curtain walls. Three workers can manually handle the installation.
Figure 1: Actual construction process and prefabricated unitised BIPV envelope as built. Each PV-integrated unitised facade panel is of a manageable weight, hence allowing installation to occur in building interiors, like unitised curtain walls. Three workers can manually handle the installation.