The building integrated photovoltaic＇�/span>BIPV（�/span>system installed on the roof of the 12-story building of Changzhou Science and Education Town was integrated into Changzhou��s power grid since January.

This system takes an area of 15,099 square meters on the roof, which is expected to have an annual average generating capacity of 1.11 millionkWhwithin the next 20 years. In 2007, the average amount of coal consumption by thermal power plants was 334g standard coal / KWh. The application of the BIPV system can help save 371 tons of standard coal, reduce about 5 tons of soot emission, decrease about 0.15 tons of carbon monoxide and around 10 tons of sulfur dioxide and reduce approximately 1,000 tons of carbon dioxide emission. Besides, a lot of water used by the traditional thermal power plants can be saved, which also contributes to environmental protection.

It is learnt that even though the overall standard of China ��s solar cell manufacturing is close to the world��s advanced level, the technology of PV power generation is not widely applied in the country, for a large and mature market has not been formed yet. Therefore, to integrate the photovoltaic power generation system into the city��s power grid is more influential from the perspective of demonstration than the economic benefits.