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Renewable Energy
by John Herbert
Building Integrated Photovoltaic :: BIPV
Building Integrated Photovoltaic or simply BIPV is the designed integration of photovoltaic solar cells into buildings and structures that will generate useful electrical energy for you and lowering your bills.
Unlike fossil fuels, BIPV renewable energy is clean, quiet, and
provides you with low cost green energy. In addition, BIPV energy
eliminates the damaging pollutants and greenhouse gases (GHG)
discharged during traditional generating methods.
Shaded
In addition to the electrical energy generated PV panels also
provide valuable shade.
During the peak periods, buildings suffer the direct impact of
solar gain, up to 20MJ per square metre per day, requiring
cooling to maintain comfortable conditions.
The shade provided by BIPV helps reducing the incident
gain, lowering the air conditioning load, and hence also lowering
your electrical bill adding more value.
BIPV Applications
The choice of applications is really only limited by imagination.
PV panels generate direct current (DC) electricity, that might power DC
motors for window blinds, directional signage, pumps, LED lamps or
other DC requirements in your building.
When coupled to an inverter, PV green electricity systems create an alternating
current (AC), with potential to drive lighting, ventilation fans, or perhaps
export power to the transmission grid (subject to local code).
Just one example, the Hong Kong Observatory use small hybrid systems. These are
small RE systems, comprising a combination of PV panels and micro Wind
turbines. These mini power stations generate electricity for remote monitoring
stations. These mini systems save the first cost for installation of expensive
power cables to remote islands and eliminates the utility charges too. Free
green electricity powered by nature.
Whatever the application, BIPV provides you with a cleaner option.
The Code of practice for connection to the power grid -
Gridconnect
Economical
BIPV is generally more economical, than a stand alone PV array because the
largest cost components, provision of the land, and supporting structure, is
already provisioned and accounted under the building construction cost.
Also PV field arrays are generally designed to sell electricity at wholesale
prices, whereas BIPV provides retail rate prices - that could be four times
higher than wholesale prices.
Buildings and other structures provides a ready made framework for supporting
and housing photovoltaic (PV) panels.
Clean Energy
Generating electrical energy from renewable sources, PV or other technologies,
reduces green house gases (GHG) e.g. carbon dioxide and other pollutants.
These saved emissions are a valuable asset, the credit (saved emission)
can be traded under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) providing an
additional revenue stream.
Further Information
For further information regarding Kelcroft's services, call today, our Hong Kong office telephone: +(852) 2335 9830, send us a fax +(852) 2335 9862, or send us an email message
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