Policy Drivers, Technology Development, and Challenges for Solar Adoption in Buildings

The building sector is a key area for global decarbonization, with policies promoting solar adoption in buildings gradually shifting from incentives and subsidies toward mandatory installation. Rooftop solar remains the most widely adopted solution, while building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), which incorporate solar modules into facades, windows, and other building materials, are growing rapidly.

In addition to conventional crystalline silicon, perovskite solar cells are regarded as a promising technology for BIPV due to their lightweight, thin, semi-transparent, and flexible characteristics, as well as continued advances in conversion efficiency. Key challenges include balancing power-generation efficiency with architectural aesthetics, high upfront installation costs, and structural load-bearing and waterproofing requirements for existing buildings.

Meanwhile, solar adoption in buildings is also driving business models toward integrated services combining power generation, energy storage, electricity consumption, and grid interaction-creating new opportunities for the industry.

Key Highlights

• Building-sector solar policy is shifting from subsidies toward mandatory installation, making it a key area for global decarbonization.
• Rooftop solar remains the dominant application, while building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV, combining modules with facades, windows, and other building materials) is growing rapidly.
• Perovskite solar cells are seen as a promising BIPV technology for their lightweight, semi-transparent, flexible properties and continually improving conversion efficiency.
• Key challenges include balancing power-generation efficiency with architectural aesthetics, high upfront installation costs, and structural load-bearing and waterproofing requirements for existing buildings.
• Building solar adoption is also driving business models toward integrated services combining power generation, energy storage, electricity consumption, and grid interaction-creating new opportunities for the industry.