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Energy used in buildings is mainly attributed to provide the desired thermal comfort, which could result in an increase in carbon emission and, in turn, lead to further environmental degradation. A Building-Integrated Photovoltaic Double-Skin Façade (BIPV-DSF) is a promising way to maintain indoor thermal comfort, obtained with low environmental impact and energy consumption. The appropriate design of BIPV-DSFs can maximise indoor thermal comfort and energy efficiency for buildings. This paper presents optimal BIPV-DSF design solutions, which are dedicated to offering comfortable and energy-efficient buildings, through optimisation of the most important design parameters of a BIPV-DSF under three different climate conditions in Australia. The results illustrate how thermal transmittance (U-value) and solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) of windows of the BIPV-DSF, as the most important design parameters, were optimised for application in the context of different climates, operation modes, and orientations. The paper contributes to the matters concerning the integrated effect of BIPV-DSFs on thermal comfort and energy performance in buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, nations have introduced energy efficiency regulations for new and existing buildings. This has been considered advantageous as more efficient building envelopes would reduce energy consumed to heat and cool home interiors to within accepted thermal comfort bandwidths. However, as these methods have been adopted, many nations have identified an unintended visible presence of surface and interstitial condensation and mould in new code-compliant buildings. In Australia, it has been estimated that up to 50% of Australian houses constructed in the last decade (2006–2016) have a presence of condensation and mould. Australia introduced its first condensation and mould-related building regulations for new homes in 2019. This paper reports on the hygrothermal and mould growth analysis of the most common low-rise residential external wall system, a timber-framed clay masonry veneer wall. A key component of this paper discusses the application of innovative methods in the Australian context. The external wall's moisture accumulation and mould growth were simulated for a period of ten years using the transient hygrothermal simulation tool, WUFI® Pro, and the mould growth model, WUFI® VTT. This study identified significant risks for this typical external wall system when constructed in a temperate climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar PV enables the conversion of solar energy into electricity and has become a clean energy technology for economic development. The advantages and disadvantages of solar photovoltaic vary among CPTPP member nations; nevertheless, since the CPTPP's implementation, fewer researchers have evaluated the member countries' solar photovoltaic goods' level of international competitiveness. In order to correct the flaw that the RCA index can only be studied from trade volume, this study adopts the IRCA index method and the revised CMS model, which integrates a number of variables to analyze the competitiveness of solar photovoltaic in each country. The study's findings indicate that: (1) the structural effect has a significant impact on export growth, particularly during the epidemic period, when Australia's contribution rate reached 106.58%; (2) the competitiveness effect has a lesser impact on export growth, and the epidemic led to a decline in competitiveness, with Japan's contribution rate reaching -262.85%; (3) the second-order effect has a declining trend in its contribution rate of export growth; (4) the export competitiveness of solar PV products differs between CPTPP countries, with power supply products having the most export competitiveness and solar cells having a steady comparative advantage in a weaker state. Apart than Japan, the remaining nations' comparative advantages for PV products are less than 1. Based on the above research findings, this paper puts forward the corresponding policy recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expanding access to solar photovoltaics (PV) may help to reduce the incidence of energy poverty. Yet, little is known about the strength and magnitude of this relationship. This paper uses cross‐sectional survey data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics to conduct a retrospective analysis of the effects of having rooftop solar PV for Australian households. As the main identification challenges are the potential for omitted variables and reverse causality, we present results for regressions controlling for potential confounders and also use an instrumental variable approach. The study finds that having solar PV is associated with a large decrease in the likelihood of experiencing energy poverty based on objective indicators that compare household incomes and energy bills. Having solar PV is also associated with a reduction in self‐reported difficulty in paying bills on time, although this effect is less robust across estimations. The findings could inform future policies for promoting residential solar PV through an improved understanding of likely impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I discuss how electric vehicles (EVs) link transportation externalities to the regulations that govern our electricity markets. Specifically, I contrast the consequences of the incentives faced by joint EV and residential PV adopters under a system of monthly net metering to those under a system of instantaneous metering with feed‐in tariffs and behind‐the‐meter own consumption. I also discuss how, even within Australia, households under new solar PV contracts and early adopters under legacy contracts face very different private costs of operating EVs, which have environmental and congestion implications. I briefly discuss how these incentives interact with the profitability and environmental benefit of household battery systems. Finally, I comment on how these short‐term incentives are likely to evolve in the longer run transition to a much cleaner grid and warn about the potential negative distributional impacts of using purchase subsidies to accelerate the adoption of these technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The energy and cost benefits of dynamic PV-integrated shading devices are assessed. • Both energy efficiency and on-site energy generation benefits are considered. • Optimal design and operation of PV-integrated shading systems are determined. • PV-integrated overhangs can allow office spaces to achieve net zero energy operation. • For Australian office buildings, PV-integrated shading systems are highly cost-effective. The paper summarizes a comprehensive analysis to determine the energy and cost benefits of static and dynamic photovoltaic (PV)-integrated shading devices when applied to windows of office spaces located in different climate zones across Australia. The evaluated dynamic shading systems consist of rotating overhangs placed above the windows and operated to minimize the annual energy demands of office spaces. For the first time, the study determines through optimization-based controls the best angle settings for the rotating overhangs on hourly, daily, or monthly basis to minimize the energy consumption of office spaces in Australia. The analysis results indicate that both optimally designed static and optimally operated dynamic PV-integrated overhangs have substantial potential to reduce the annual energy needs of office spaces for all Australian climates with annual energy savings ranging from 45% to over 100% depending on the building orientation, window size, glazing type, and overhang depth. This high energy benefits are attributed to the multi-function capability of the PV-integrated shading systems to minimize cooling and space thermal loads while maximizing on-site electricity generation. Unlike the case of static shading devices, it is found that dynamic PV-integrated overhangs allow office spaces to reach net-zero energy operation for certain climate zones in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel method to simulate multifunctional biomimetic adaptive facades is proposed. • Multifunctional adaptive facades can be simulated with script-based controls. • 600 iterations of a multifunctional shading and ventilating Bio-ABS is analysed. • PVC glazing achieves shading, and SMA springs trigger ventilation by openings. • An adaptive façade over a non-adaptable one improves thermal comfort by 18 to 37.1%. Biomimetic adaptive building skins (Bio-ABS), being adaptable to changing environmental conditions, can foster improved comfort and reduced energy demand. Bio-ABS are climate-adaptable façades, and biological functions inspire their design. Buildings often require multiple functions for improved environmental performance. Multifunctionality refers to hosting multiple triggered by diverse stimuli interdependently. The realisation of multifunctional Bio-ABS may be challenging due to difficult construction processes, expensive materials, and the complexity in their application. Thus, digital modelling and simulation of multifunctional Bio-ABS are important to predict their performance. This paper reviews the studies on simulating Bio-ABS, proposes a novel simulation framework for multifunctional Bio-ABS and demonstrates it through a parametric case study. Performance comparisons among twenty base-case scenarios and 600 iterations of shading and ventilating multifunctional Bio-ABS provides shading through photovoltachromic (PVC) glazing and ventilation through Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) springs triggered openings. It is multifunctional by changing its morphology and physiology due to photovoltachromic glazing triggered by solar irradiance and Shape Memory Alloys being triggered by temperature. The results show that Bio-ABS improves building performance when compared against non-adaptable façades, reaching 37.1% for 90% acceptability limits and 18% for 80% acceptability limits for adaptive thermal comfort in an educational building in the humid subtropical climate of Sydney. Australia. The main outcome and contribution of this study is a novel simulation framework to predict the performance of morphology and physiology changing multifunctional Bio-ABS. Future work may focus on prototyping and validated experiments to close the gap between theory and the real world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of a CSP tower system with a PV solar field, sharing a thermal energy storage, is modeled and discussed. The tower system uses a new-design solid particle fluidized bed receiver integrated with a thermal storage, where hot particles are directly collected to store daily energy for overnight production of electricity. The PV solar field is aimed to supply the daily energy demand; when there is a surplus of PV energy production, the electric energy is converted to heat and accumulated in the thermal storage too. The integration of the two energy systems is modeled, building efficiency functions for all the sub-components of the integrated plant (heliostat field, receiver, storage, power block, PV field). Yearly simulations are performed for two different locations, Spain and Australia, obtaining that a system with a peak power of 10 MWe CSP + 15 MWe PV can supply—with a limited curtailment—a fraction of more than 60% (respectively, 62% and 68%) of a realistic electric load with a peak demand around 10 MW, to be compared with the 45/47% of the same load obtained adopting a PV-only system with the same overall peak power. In the integrated system, PV directly supplies 40/41% of the load, the remaining 23/28% being produced by the power block (mainly fed by the CSP). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper develops new practical rule-based energy management systems (EMSs) for typical grid-connected houses with solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery by considering different rates for purchasing and selling electricity. The EMSs are developed to supply the household's loads and reduce operating costs of the system based on different options of flat and time-of-use (ToU) rates for buying and selling electricity prices. Four different options are evaluated and compared in this study: (1) Flat-Flat, (2) ToU-Flat, (3) Flat-ToU, and (4) ToU-ToU. The operation cost is calculated based on the electricity exchange with the main grid, the equivalent cost of PV generation, as well as the degradation cost of battery storage. The operation of the grid-connected house with rooftop solar PV and battery is evaluated for a sunny week in summer and a cloudy week in winter to investigate the proper performance for high and low generations of PV. While the developed rule-based EMS are generic and can be applied for any case studies, a grid-connected house in Australia is examined. For this purpose, real data of solar radiation, air temperature, electricity consumption, and electricity rates are used. It is found that the ToU-Flat option has the lowest operating cost for the customers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The drive for improved regulatory systems and the establishment of a more effective regulatory framework in Australia (AU) and South Africa (ZA) has been evident for the past two decades. Navigating through South African Health Product Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) and Therapeutic Goods Administration Australia (TGA) requirements poses a challenge for generic product manufacturers while approaching market authorizations. Objective: The present work was an attempt to understand the Australia (AU) and South Africa (ZA) specific additional data requirement of Chemistry, Manufacturing and Control (CMC) in order to build Module 3 dossier and ensuring timely approval of generic product in ZA and AU market. Methodology: This research work was a mix of Applied, Conceptual and Empirical research types. Results: With the adoption of a large number of EU regulations, it is easier to use most of the data generated for the EU market. However, there is still extensive AU and ZA specific CMC requirements, as discussed and presented in this article, which must be considered at the development and global dossier preparation stages to ensure swift and timely approval in AU and ZA. Conclusion: It is imperative to identify, generate and present this additional data for AU and ZA, during global generic product regulatory filing to save cost and timely approval of the generic products in ZA and AU. It is recommended to keep abreast with everchanging regulations in ZA and AU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]