NEWS AND EVENT

BIPV systems provide smart low-carbon solutions for MiC Public Housing

On 2nd of July, this demonstration project, jointly built by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and Shui On Construction Development Co., Ltd. (SOCAM), was officially unveiled in Ping Che, Fanling, Hong Kong. This interdisciplinary innovative practice successfully integrated building integrated photovoltaic system (BIPV) and modular integrated building (MiC) technology into public housing construction, setting a new benchmark for the sustainable development of high-density cities. Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. How to significantly reduce carbon emissions in a limited space has always been a major challenge facing the local government and related industries. 

Professor Xiang Changying, Assistant Professor of the Integrated Systems and Design Division (ISD) of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Director of the Zero Carbon Building and Future City Laboratory of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, said: “Through this demonstration project, we hope to explore a new path to achieve low-carbon transformation in high-density environments. We hope to explore the integration impact between building-integrated photovoltaic systems (BIPV) and modular integrated buildings (MiC) through this demonstration project. Demonstrate to the society the great potential of smart low-carbon buildings and provide replicable greener, smarter and more sustainable building solutions for future urban planning and construction.”

The BIPV-MiC project also integrates technologies from other teams at HKUST, including the self-cleaning coating developed by Professor Yang Jinglei’s team and the radiative cooling technology developed by Professor Huang Baoling’s team. A series of R&D and applications were tested and demonstrated, including:

1. Colored facade integrated photovoltaic system;

2. BIPV windows with passive radiation cooling film;

3. BIPV system with self-cleaning coating;

Professional teams from academia, Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, Hong Kong Housing Society, Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, Construction Industry Council and related industry partners were invited to visit the demonstration project. The monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic material of this project was jointly developed by JinkoSolar and HKUST, and the energy storage system was supported by Emaldo. The research team expressed gratitude to JinkoSolar, Velux, Emaldo and other supporting partners.