Stakeholder Consultation Workshop on Scaling BIPV Integration in India: Challenges and Opportunities

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and GRIHA Council convened a National Stakeholder Consultation Workshop on “Scaling BIPV Integration in India: Challenges & Opportunities” at India Habitat Centre to accelerate adoption of Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) on 21 January 2026 as India advances towards its net-zero target.

The consultation brought together policymakers, industry leaders, architects, researchers, financial institutions, and international experts to identify practical pathways for mainstreaming BIPV across India’s rapidly expanding built environment, integrating solar generation into building elements (façades, roofs, glazing, and shading devices) without additional land requirements.

Key voices and perspectives

• Mr Sanjay Seth (Welcome Address): Emphasized that technology and costs are no longer the primary constraints; scale-up now depends on integration, delivery, and regulation, including clearer approvals and procurement pathways to make BIPV bankable and scalable.
• Prof Deo Prasad, CEO, NSW Decarbonisation Innovation Hub (Online Special Address): Highlighted global best practices and the role of policy support, demonstrations, and smart incentives in accelerating demand-side clean energy.
• Ms Reena Garg, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) (Special Address): Stressed the need for standards, safety, durability, and structural integrity frameworks for BIPV; noted BIS’s committee formation for solar PV energy systems.
• Technology spotlight: Prateek Jain presented on façade-integrated BIPV, focusing on real-world integration considerations.

Participation

The workshop reflected a multi-stakeholder ecosystem, with representation from public institutions and partners including Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), International Solar Alliance (ISA), and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), alongside academia, architects, manufacturers, and clean energy companies.

Key takeaways

What’s holding BIPV back

• Bankability and financial confidence remain decisive for scale-up, high upfront costs and unclear investment risk/ownership.
• A persistent “proven technology” mindset barrier slows uptake, stakeholders noted the need for stronger confidence-building through evidence and demonstrations.
• Standards and compliance pathways are still evolving for BIPV as an integrated building product (structural, safety, durability, and performance).
• Procurement and approvals require clearer, predictable frameworks to reduce uncertainty for developers and financiers.
• Workforce readiness gaps, particularly the shortage of skilled labor capable of installing solutions that combine electrical and building-integration requirements.

How stakeholders framed the solution

• Treat BIPV as an integrated building solution, not only electricity generation, accounting for:
  • Thermal performance
  • Daylighting
  • Whole-envelope design outcomes
• Clearly differentiate BIPV vs conventional rooftop PV in policy, approvals, and market communication.
• Recognize (especially for façade applications) that BIPV should be understood and positioned as a building material in India’s construction ecosystem.

Where near-term opportunity is strongest

• New construction was highlighted as the most practical entry point for BIPV integration.
• Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities were identified as high-potential markets for early adoption at scale.
• Institutional and government uptake (including pilots) can accelerate confidence and acceptance.

Outcomes and next steps

• Participants converged on the need for pilot and demonstration projects as the immediate priority to build market confidence and generate India-specific performance, cost, and execution learnings.
• The deliberations aimed to shape actionable recommendations to embed BIPV into urban planning and construction practice, covering standards, procurement clarity, financing frameworks, skills, and lifecycle considerations including end-of-life and e-waste.