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Introduction
 
The PV DATABASE for urban PV applications
This PV database has been collected to disseminate important results, experiences and lessons learnt on urban applications of PV (PhotoVoltaic solar energy). It contains a comprehensive review of PV projects in the built environment in Europe and other IEA countries.

In the 1990s many building integrated PV solar energy (BIPV) projects were realized in Europe and Japan. Since 2000 projects have been realized in many other countries. Large markets have developed in some countries e.g. in Germany and Japan. In the PV database all important data and issues regarding relevant PV installations are presented to allow experiences to be internationally assessed and disseminated. The database is designed to serve the needs of the customers and other stakeholders of PV: municipal officers, architects, property developers, constructing companies, grid operators, financing companies, building owners and policy makers.

The PV database is a 'joint venture' between the PV-UP-SCALE project and the IEA PVPS Task 10 project.

PV-UP-SCALE
PV-UP-SCALE stands for PV in Urban Policies: a Strategic and Comprehensive Approach for Long-term Expansion and was a project carried out and subsidized within the framework of the EC's Intelligent Energy-Europe (IEE) program. The objective of this project was to enhance the large-scale implementation of dispersed grid-connected photovoltaics in the urban environment. Drivers were identified that can stimulate decision makers to apply solar energy, bottlenecks have been addressed that will hinder them. Solutions for the bottlenecks have been proposed and best practices presented to the stakeholders in the process of planning, application and use of PV. The information needs were identified with the help of key stakeholders in the participating countries.

Results are available on the main PV Up-scale web site relating to the four main interest areas:

  • Planning our cities
  • Connection to the grid
  • Economical drivers
  • Targeted information development and dissemination  

    IEA-PVPS TASK 10 on Urban-Scale Photovoltaic Applications
    The IEA Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) is one of the collaborative R&D agreements established within the IEA (International Energy Agency). Since 1993 its participants have been conducting a variety of joint projects concerned with the application of photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into electricity.

    PVPS Task 10 is a collaborative project on Urban-Scale Photovoltaic Applications. The objective of Task 10 is to enhance the opportunities for the wide-scale, solution-oriented application of PV in the urban environment, as part of an integrated approach that maximizes building energy efficiency as well as solar thermal and photovoltaics usage. Task 10 builds on previous collaborative actions, such as the important and trail-blazing work of Task 7 on BIPV (building integrated photovoltaics).
    The Task 10 work is divided into four subtasks, targeted at solar electricity global market enterprise for all stakeholders:

  • Subtask 1 seeks to define the global solar market through economic and other market drivers.
  • Subtask 2 focuses on the development of guidance to integrate photovoltaics into standard building design models, tools, practices and community energy infrastructure planning.
  • Subtask 3 concentrates on technical and infrastructure challenges related to building integrated photovoltaics and demonstrates best practices to overcome barriers.
  • Subtask 4 carries out the development and the dissemination of information targeted to a variety of stakeholders, and includes market research .

    Task 10 motivates the collaboration between urban planners, architects, building engineers, PV system specialists, utility specialists, PV and building industry and other professionals involved in photovoltaics.