What Is Building-Integrated Photovoltaics?
BIPV stands for building-integrated photovoltaics. It means the solar is part of the building, usually the roof covering itself, instead of panels bolted onto racks above a finished roof. One layer keeps the rain out and makes electricity. Because of that, the roof and the solar get designed, installed and looked after as a single job.
A few terms you'll run into
- BIPV (building-integrated photovoltaics)
- Solar that replaces a normal building material and does that material's job too. On a roof, that means it keeps the weather out and makes electricity.
- Roof-integrated photovoltaics
- BIPV on the roof. The solar is part of the roof covering, not something attached above it.
- Solar roof
- What most people call a roof with integrated solar. Some panels generate power and some don't, and they're made to look like one roof.
- Standing-seam roof
- A metal roof built from long panels joined at raised vertical seams. The joints sit up out of the way of running water.
- Active panel
- A roof panel with solar cells in it.
- Passive panel
- A matching roof panel with no cells. It goes where solar isn't worth it or won't fit: edges, shaded spots, around vents and chimneys.
- Rack-mounted solar
- The familiar kind. Solar modules fixed to mounting hardware above a finished roof.
How it differs from the solar most people picture
Both kinds turn sunlight into electricity. What changes is the job the solar product does for the building, and that changes when you'd plan it and who installs it.
| Question | Roof-integrated (BIPV) | Rack-mounted solar |
|---|---|---|
| What's the roof covering? | The solar product is the covering | A separate roof sits under the modules |
| How does it look? | Flat in the roof plane, with matching panels around it | Modules sit above the roof on mounting hardware |
| When do you plan it? | When you're building or replacing the roof | Whenever the existing roof is in good shape |
| Who installs it? | Roofers and electricians, working to one plan | A solar crew, on a roof that's already there |
| What shapes the layout? | Roof geometry, panel sizes and how the whole roof looks | Where there's unshaded space to mount modules |
| What do you compare the cost to? | A new roof and a solar system together | A solar system on its own |
Where it tends to get used
New homes are the obvious one, especially where the roof is a big part of how the house looks. Full roof replacements are the other, when the owner was thinking about solar anyway. We also see it on multifamily, hospitality and commercial buildings with pitched roofs you can see from the street, and on projects where a design review board or a homeowners' association wants the roof to look uniform.
Where it gets awkward
BIPV is tied to the roof schedule. If your roof has years left in it, tearing it off to integrate solar is hard to justify. Busy roofs are another problem. Lots of small planes, dormers, vents and skylights leave little room for active panels.
There are also fewer products to choose from than with conventional modules, so the layout and the electrical design follow whichever system you pick. Rules and approvals differ by place and by product, so check what applies to your location and to the exact product before you commit. And you need installers who are comfortable with both roofing and solar. Not every crew is.
Best for
- New builds and full reroofs
- People who care how the roof looks
- Big, simple roof planes with good sun
- Projects where the roofer and electrician can talk early
May not be best for
- A sound roof that isn't due for replacement
- Heavily shaded or chopped-up roofs
- Projects that need a specific module brand
- Schedules with no slack for coordination
Four things to settle before you go further
Timing comes first. Make the call before the roof is designed or ordered, because retrofitting the decision later costs money.
Then look at the roof itself. Orientation, pitch, shade and the number of planes decide how much of it can be active.
Ask for the paperwork that matches where you're building: product data, installation instructions and whatever approvals apply locally.
Last, get it in writing who is responsible for the roof, who is responsible for the electrical system, and who you call if something needs attention.
What a project looks like
- A first conversation about what you want, the roof, the timeline and the location.
- A look at the roof and site: drawings or measurements, orientation, shade, structure.
- A layout showing where active and passive panels go and how the electrical side connects.
- A proposal, plus the documents needed for permitting and the utility where you are.
- Installation, with roofing and electrical work run as one scope.
- Inspection, connection and handover.
The exact steps and approvals depend on the project and the jurisdiction.
Questions we get asked
Is BIPV the same thing as a solar roof?
A solar roof is the most common kind of BIPV. The term is broader and also covers façades and other parts of a building that generate power.
Is there still a roof underneath?
The integrated panels are the roof covering. Like any roof covering, they go over the underlayment and structure that the installation instructions call for.
Can it go on my existing roof?
It's installed as a new roof covering, so it suits new builds and full replacements. If your roof is staying, rack-mounted solar is usually the simpler route.
Does the whole roof make power?
Usually not. Active panels go where they'll earn their keep, and passive panels fill in the rest so the roof looks consistent.
Who should be in the room first?
The owner, the designer, the roofer and the electrician. Get them together before the roof is drawn and you save yourself rework.
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