Lotte Construction announced on the 16th that it is collaborating with Lotte Chemical, EPSCORE, and Standard Energy to conduct joint research in response to the mandatory zero-energy certification for buildings starting next year and to enhance the utility of electricity produced in buildings.
Lotte Construction has installed a “Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV)” system and a “Vanadium Ion Battery Energy Storage System (VIB ESS)” at its headquarters in Jamwon-dong, Seoul, as a pilot project and is conducting a performance evaluation.
The BIPV system, which is installed on the exterior walls of buildings, performs both power generation and the function of building cladding without requiring additional installation space, making it highly useful in urban buildings with limited construction space.
Lotte Construction is working with solar module specialist EPSCORE to enhance the durability and construction efficiency of solar modules. The solar modules in the BIPV system are installed using the “Glass to Steel (GtoS)” technique, which differs from the conventional “Glass to Glass (GtoG)” method by using glass on the front and steel on the back to reduce weight.
The solar film material uses durable POE (Polyolefin Elastomer) to prevent discoloration and corrosion from external factors like moisture. Collaborating with Lotte Chemical’s basic chemical research lab, Lotte Construction is also conducting research on the characteristics and optimization of POE materials to enhance the bonding process efficiency for BIPV.
Additionally, Lotte Construction is conducting joint research with battery specialist Standard Energy on the VIB ESS associated with the BIPV system. The vanadium ion battery developed by Standard Energy utilizes a water-based electrolyte, inherently eliminating fire risks while boasting a long battery life and high charging efficiency. An energy tile, designed in a tile format for indoor attachment and recognized with an innovation award at CES 2025, is also part of this demonstration.
A representative from Lotte Construction’s technology research institute stated that through this technological development and facility establishment, they aim to secure stable application of energy production and storage technologies in buildings, and play a leading role in realizing zero-energy buildings through comprehensive evaluation of performance monitoring and integration strategies.