BIPV in Energy Communities

Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) represent a promising solution for the energy transition of buildings, but their high initial cost has so far limited their spread compared to traditional systems. A new study conducted by Eurac Research shows how incentives for energy sharing within Renewable Energy Communities can significantly improve the economic competitiveness of these technologies.

The research, published in September 2025 in the journal Energy Reports, analysed the implementation of BIPV and BAPV (Building Applied Photovoltaic) systems in a 13-storey condominium in 3 European contexts: Rome, Vienna, and Brussels. The aim was to quantify how energy sharing incentives affect the economic convenience of BIPV in different climates and regulatory contexts.

“BIPV combines energy generation, technological integration, and aesthetic value, contributing to the goals of nearly zero-energy buildings,” explains the research team Valeria Casalicchio, Gabriella Gonnella, Laura Maturi, and Grazia Barchi. “However, the higher initial costs compared to standard photovoltaic systems have been a significant barrier to adoption.”

The study used optimisation algorithms to compare four different scenarios: only BAPV system on the roof, without energy sharing or specific incentives, introduction of energy sharing, addition of BAPV/BIPV incentives, and complete combination of BIPV, energy sharing, and incentives.

The analysis considered real electricity consumption profiles, photovoltaic production specific to each location, and different national regulatory frameworks, including mechanisms such as tax deductions in Italy, VAT exemptions in Austria, and green certificates in Belgium.

The data show a substantial impact of incentives for energy sharing. Energy sharing is confirmed as a key element for BIPV competitiveness: even the simple transition from the base scenario to the configuration with energy sharing (scenario ii) generated cost reductions of 5% in Rome, 13% in Vienna, while in Brussels the impact was marginal.

The study highlights a fundamental difference between the two technologies: while BAPV systems are profitable in all scenarios analysed, BIPV still requires a tailored approach and targeted support policies to compete economically.

“Regulatory frameworks are crucial for BIPV adoption,” the researchers emphasise. Vienna shows the most significant results, with an 85% NPV increase in the optimal scenario, thanks to the favourable combination of national incentives and energy sharing mechanisms.

The research demonstrates that renewable energy communities not only promote local self-consumption and collective participation in the energy transition, but also represent an effective mechanism to make still costly technologies like BIPV economically sustainable. Energy sharing emerges as a fundamental tool: without sharing mechanisms, BIPV struggles to compete economically with traditional solutions.

With the evolution of European regulations on energy communities and the goal of decarbonising the building stock, BIPV could finally move beyond its niche technology phase to become a standard solution in sustainable construction.