composite / Panelised / Photovoltaic Panel
Photovoltaic-integrated composite panel (30mm, 40mm, 45mm, 50mm total panel)
Building-integrated photovoltaic panels that combine facade or roof cladding with solar generation.
Atlas code
COM-PNL-PV-001
At-a-glance signals
Building-integrated photovoltaic panels that combine facade or roof cladding with solar generation.
Overview
Executive summary
Photovoltaic-integrated composite panels use laminated safety glass with embedded solar cells, supplying both building enclosure and on-site electricity. BIPV glazing can be configured as a laminated safety glass or IGU, with adjustable transparency depending on cell spacing.
Best when…
- Dual functionality - energy generation plus building envelope
- 25-30 year design life with warranties
- Reduces building operational energy costs
- Contributes to Green Star and NABERS ratings
- Customisable aesthetics and transparency
- Proven technology with established supply chains
- Government incentives available (STCs)
- Low maintenance requirements
Top advantages
- 01 Dual functionality - energy generation plus building envelope
- 02 25-30 year design life with warranties
- 03 Reduces building operational energy costs
- 04 Contributes to Green Star and NABERS ratings
- 05 Customisable aesthetics and transparency
Top limitations
- 01 High initial capital cost (AUD $550-1100/m² installed)
- 02 Custom sizes increase costs and lead times
- 03 Efficiency decreases with temperature (-0.4%/°C)
- 04 Complex integration with building systems
- 05 Limited local manufacturing capability
Technical
Physical ·9
- Density
- 1480 kg/m3 Derived from 39 mm IGU thickness and 177 kg per 3.06 m2 module (~58 kg/m2).
- Specific gravity
- 2.5
- Porosity
- 0 %
- Water absorption
- 0.01 %
- Hardness
- 6.5
- UV resistance
- Excellent // qualitative - UV-stable encapsulants
- Chemical resistance
- Good // general resistance to environmental exposure
- pH tolerance
- 5-9
- Surface roughness
- 0.5 µm
Mechanical ·7
- Tensile strength
- 120 MPa
- Compressive strength
- 1000 MPa
- Flexural strength
- 150 MPa
- Shear strength
- 80 MPa
- Poisson's ratio
- 0.22
- Impact resistance
- Grade A // AS 2208 safety glass
- Creep resistance
- Excellent // minimal under normal loads
Sustainability & Health
Embodied carbon & energy ·7
- Embodied carbon
- 400 kgCO2e/m² Per m² of PV-integrated panel (includes crystalline silicon cell manufacturing).
- Carbon footprint
- 450
- Embodied energy
- 3000 MJ/kg
- Water footprint
- 2000 L/kg
- Recycled content
- 20 %
- Renewable content
- 0 %
- Circular score
- 65
Compliance & Fire
Fire performance ·6
- Combustibility class
- A1 // Euroclass - non-combustible
- Fire resistance level
- Non-combustible // AS 1530.1
- Ignition temp
- 600 °C
- Flame spread index
- 0
- Smoke dev. index
- 0
- Heat release rate
- 0
Cost & Lifecycle
Capex & lead time ·6
- Material cost (range)
- 400-800 // AUD/m²
- Material cost (per unit)
- 600
- Lead time
- 8-12 weeks // for custom sizes
- Lifecycle cost
- 850
- Annual maintenance
- 5
- Market availability
- Good // readily available from suppliers
Service life & durability ·3
- Expected lifespan
- 30
- Maintenance interval
- 6
- Warranty period
- 25
Layer D
Where it's used
Building facades and curtain walls
Skylights and atriums
Canopies and shading devices
Balustrades and safety barriers
Roof-integrated systems
Commercial building envelopes
Zero-energy building designs
Architectural feature elements