BAIPV4NZECThe Opportunity
Problem & Product Solution
The Problem
- Rooftop solar is often impractical on dense urban buildings with limited or shaded roof area.
- No empirically measured PV performance data exists for tropical hot-humid climates — published datasets come from temperate or semi-arid regions (Spain, Mexico, Central Europe).
The Solution
- Adaptive framework: façade-mounted PV that adapts to the building’s actual orientation — not the other way around.
- Orientation-adaptive power estimation: estimates output at any azimuth using empirically calibrated, Chennai-tropical data.
- Standardized, manufacturable retrofit fixing detail — post-construction installable with no structural intervention on the host building.
- Horizontally-tilted rooftop panels — an add-on extension of the same vertical façade system, used only where roof area is available.
Competitive Landscape
Where We Stand
| Parameter | Rooftop Tilted PV (13°) | BAIPV4NZEC |
|---|---|---|
| Orientation | Fixed optimal tilt, typically south-facing | Adapts to any building azimuth |
| Installation | Roof-mounted; tilt angle fixed at install | Façade-mounted, post-construction retrofittable; mounting angle adjustable per building |
| Power estimation | Horizontal irradiance models | Empirically calibrated vertical façade data |
| Climate calibration | Temperate / semi-arid | Tropical hot-humid (Chennai-calibrated) |
| Structural system | Custom / bespoke per project | Standardized, manufacturable fixing detail |
| Panel footprint | Limited by available roof area | Façade area can be scaled up to increase footprint and help reach net-zero energy condition |
Status
Where We Are
Milestones
- Empirical tropical façade PV dataset validated (Chennai)
- Structural fixing detail engineered — prototyping and manufacturing in progress
- Provisional Patent filed — Application No. 202641074545 (ICSR, IIT Madras)
- Peer-reviewed journal publication (Solar Energy Advances)
Our USP
First adaptive, tropical-calibrated, retrofit-ready façade PV system with an orientation-agnostic power estimation approach. Competing alternatives — rooftop EPC providers, conventional BIPV façade glass systems, and generic simulation tools — do not address non-optimal orientation or tropical retrofit conditions.