The Institute of Psychology at the University of Freiburg and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE have jointly conducted a study on the social acceptance of building-integrated photovoltaics (PV). The scientists concluded that the acceptance of photovoltaics in urban areas is generally very high. However, PV on modern buildings is rated somewhat more positively than on historical buildings. Matching the color of the PV system to the building can further increase this acceptance – to the point that when photovoltaics are invisibly integrated, no differences in acceptance can be detected for different building types.

The study, which was conducted as part of the livMatS Cluster of Excellence at the University of Freiburg, evaluates two surveys: an online survey based on photos and a survey in person with display copies of different colored PV modules using MorphoColor technology. “An important finding of the study is that social acceptance of PV systems depends on the type of building and the visual impression. These two factors carry much more weight than personal variables such as personal values, political attitudes or environmental concerns,” says Angela Zhou, a master's student at the University of Freiburg and lead author of the study.

“The study provides initial insights into the social acceptance of PV systems on and in buildings,” adds Andreas Wessels, a doctoral student at Fraunhofer ISE and co-author of the study. ”It confirms that the acceptance of PV systems can indeed be increased by good visual integration with colored modules, especially for historical buildings.”

The study indicates that for existing buildings, it makes more sense to select PV modules that blend homogeneously into the appearance of the building, rather than using PV as an architectural accent. A wide range of different-looking PV modules is therefore important for different building contexts. Photovoltaics in combination with new buildings were not examined in the study, so this limitation does not necessarily apply here.

Today, 75 percent of installed PV is already on buildings. The market for photovoltaics on buildings is growing continuously and holds great potential. Around 400 gigawatts of peak installed PV capacity will be needed by 2045 for the energy transition in Germany to succeed. With a technical potential of around 1000 gigawatts peak, photovoltaics on buildings can make a significant contribution to the decarbonization of the building sector and built infrastructure – without taking up additional space.

Video