Accurate knowledge on the technical potential for Building Integrated PhotoVoltaics (BIPV) in the various member states of the European Union is unavailable. To estimate the potential for BIPV we developed a method using readily available statistical data on buildings from European databases. Based on country-specific data on building characteristics and irradiation we estimate the BIPV technical potential in the EU-27 at 951 GWp. Installed it can deliver about 840 TWh of electricity, which is equivalent to more than 22% of the expected European 2030 annual electricity demand. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.