Author: Anna Pomortseva, SolarPower Europe
As Europe accelerates its transition towards climate neutrality, the built environment stands at the heart of the challenge. A recent satellite event of the New European Bauhaus Festival (NEB) on 9th June demonstrated how cross-sectoral collaboration can drive innovative solutions for integrating solar energy into heritage buildings.
Bringing together experts from solar energy, architecture, heritage conservation, and urban planning, the roundtable offered a compelling vision of how Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) can help bridge the gap between sustainability and preservation.
Technology and the Cultural Heritage
At the core of the discussion was the Gare Maritime case study in Brussels, presented by project stakeholders from Nextensa, Altstadt, and Sunsoak. This flagship example illustrates how BIPV can go beyond energy generation to become an architectural and functional element within historic settings.
In this project, BIPV serves multiple roles:
Acting as façade glazing
Providing solar shading to prevent overheating
Generating renewable energy on-site
While BIPV can entail higher upfront costs, its multi-functionality enhances its economic benefits, particularly when replacing traditional construction elements.
More importantly, the case demonstrates that solar technologies can transform historic façades without compromising their identity.
The integration of solar technologies into heritage buildings cannot be achieved in silos
As highlighted in the opening remarks, the success of integrated photovoltaics depends on understanding and aligning the needs of multiple sectors:
Solar industry representatives
Architects and designers
Heritage professionals
Construction sector
Urban planners and public authorities
This collaboration is not only technical but also cultural which helps to ensure that solutions respect both architectural values and sustainability goals.
A Policy Perspective: Buildings at the Centre of the Transition
‘’We need to make our buildings resilient and ready for extreme heat, especially extreme summer heat. Technologies such as rooftop solar are an important part of that’’ Ciarán Cuffe.
In his keynote intervention, Ciarán Cuffe, former Member of the European Parliament and lead rapporteur for the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), placed the discussion within the broader European policy framework.
He emphasized that:
Buildings account for around 40% of Europe’s energy consumption, making them a critical sector for decarbonization
On-site solar generation can significantly contribute to energy security, affordability, and autonomy
The EPBD* is driving transformative change, including mandatory rooftop solar on certain building categories from 2027
Beyond regulation, his intervention reframed climate action as part of a broader societal imperative:
“We need to defend climate action and reframe it as a matter of security, resilience and the future”
Challenges and Opportunities
Despite its strong potential, large-scale BIPV deployment still faces barriers, including high upfront costs, structural constraints in existing buildings, skills shortages in the construction sector, and limited expertise among public authorities. Addressing these challenges will require innovative financing mechanisms, stronger engagement with stakeholders, and continued demonstration through flagship projects.
Moving Forward
The INCREASE project aims to tackle these barriers by combining technical innovation in PV design with practical guidelines and stakeholder engagement.
By fostering dialogue across disciplines and aligning innovation with policy, Europe can unlock the full potential of its buildings by transforming heritage into a driver of sustainability.
