Photovoltaic Glazing
Photovoltaic Glazing
Examples of PV Glazing Systems (photo 1)
Examples of PV Glazing Systems (photos 2–6)
Examples of PV Glazing Systems (photos 7–10)
Availability
Cost
Possible Problem
Most PV windows are available only by special order. Special order panels allow building professionals to size the PV glass to their specific application and space out the cells on the glass in whatever pattern they prefer.
Currently (late 2004) the only American manufacturer of PV glazing is Spire Solar www.spiresolarchicago.com, where it is produced as a custom order product. Because it is a custom product its cost will be higher than mass-produced aluminum framed panel.
BP solar manufactured a PV glazing product in the past, called the PowerView (tm), but it is out of production. Most PV manufacturing lines are operating at full capacity making standard aluminum framed PV panels. Once the demand slacks we again expect to see more PV glazing products enter the market.
In Wisconsin PV systems cannot be included in the property tax assessment. For commercial PV systems owners, the federal incentives include a 10% business tax credit and the system can be depreciated over 5½ rather than 20 years.
PV glazing products are not UL listed. Some building electrical inspectors may look for UL listings on PV modules. At this time, each specially ordered PV glazing module would have to be tested by UL and certified. This costs ten of thousands of dollars, and is thus unlikely.
In the future PV glazing products will need to be produced in such a way that UL certification is not too expensive. In Europe, where PV glazing is more common, the electric certifying groups certify a manufacturing process, not the manufactured product. This allows European PV glazing to be made to different specifications and still have the European equivalent of a UL listing.
It is likely that in the near future PV manufacturers will be producing standardized PV glazing products with UL labels.
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