Escaping the niche market: An innovation system analysis of the Dutch building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) sector

Abstract

Over the past years, a new technology has emerged in the solar photovoltaics market: building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). Even though this technology has a lot of potential, the diffusion of BIPV has remained rather limited, globally and also in the Netherlands. In this paper, the Technological Innovation System (TIS) approach is used to analyze the historical development of the Dutch BIPV innovation system and to provide a comprehensive overview of the systemic problems that hamper further diffusion of BIPV in the Netherlands. Several systemic problems are identified, including 1) lack of policy support for the industrialization and commercialization of BIPV, 2) the absence of large firms from the construction industry resulting in the lacking industrial capacities of the BIPV innovation system, and 3) the limited value chain coordination and collaboration to help improve the compatibility and complementarity of BIPV with traditional building components and (electrical) installations. To overcome these systemic problems and enable the Dutch BIPV innovation system to move from the present niche market phase to the commercial growth phase, multiple recommendations are provided to both policymakers and value chain actors.