A new study finds that colored solar panels directly impact the social acceptance of building-integrated photovoltaics. Modern architecture suits this approach better than historic buildings in terms of appeal
The Psychological Impact of Custom Photovoltaic Modules
Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) experienced a golden era in Italy with the introduction of the generous Superbonus 110%. However, now that the measure has ended (and with continuous changes to the regulations), public interest has declined. How can this enthusiasm be revived? One idea could be to use custom photovoltaic modules—colored solar panels designed to blend with the building’s aesthetics, almost becoming visually invisible.
A new study by the Institute of Psychology at the University of Freiburg and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE examined the relationship between social acceptance and the characteristics of photovoltaic systems. The researchers analyzed the results of two surveys in which photovoltaic modules of various colors, featuring MorphoColor technology, were shown.
“An important finding of the study,” says Angela Zhou, lead researcher and author of the publication in Technology in Society, “is that social acceptance of photovoltaic systems depends on the type of building and the visual impression. These two factors have much more weight than personal variables such as individual values, political attitudes, or environmental concerns.”
The group found that photovoltaic systems on modern buildings were viewed much more positively than those on historic buildings. While this may seem obvious, they also discovered that “invisible” solar panels eliminate this perceptual difference. In other words, custom photovoltaic modules designed to seamlessly integrate with a building’s aesthetics are accepted just as easily on historic or religious architecture.
“The study provides initial insights into the social acceptance of photovoltaic systems on and around buildings,” adds Andreas Wessels, researcher at Fraunhofer ISE and co-author of the publication. “It confirms that acceptance can indeed be increased through good visual integration with colored modules.”
More importantly, the study shows that personal variables have a secondary importance when it comes to the openness toward photovoltaic technology in buildings. According to the authors, invisibility and aesthetic integration are key factors for acceptance across all types of buildings, but they also emphasize the need for further studies on the optical properties of PV modules depending on the building’s context/background.
