Flexible Photovoltaic Solar Design

The advancement in material science has enabled enormous develop-ments of photovoltaic technologies. From an architectural integration viewpoint, the mechanical flexibility of the photovoltaic products represents another key consider-ation, rather than cost and energy conversion efficiency only. This chapter presents descriptions of flexible substrates and thin-film photovoltaic, deepening the two key choices for the flexible photovoltaic in buildings, the thin film, as well as the organic one. This chapter includes the investigation of the main flexible substrate materials for PVs as well as the flexible PV module products. Considering the two important requirements for building applications, the higher transparencies upon visible lights, as well as the multiple color choices, the corresponding potentials and limits are highlighted. Additionally, the state of the art over the manufacturing and market of flexible photovoltaic are introduced. And a frame has been defined regarding the environmental impact assessment of organic photovoltaic technologies and flexible skins.