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Windows integrated with PV can provide electrical energy and control the energy flow (heat and light) through the windows. With the objective of evaluate the potential application of window integrated PV in southwest China, the performance of silicon PV windows was comprehensively studied. A test unit was developed to monitor the performance of window integrated PV, then a validated comprehensive approach integrated with heat transfer, optical, electrical and building simulation model was used to comprehensively evaluate the performance of the window integrated PV under various climatic conditions in southwest China. The effects of the air gap on window thermal performance, window orientation, different window-to-wall ratio and coverage ratio of PV cells are evaluated. It was found that a maximum energy saving could be achieved, when the PV window is installed on the south facing façade with a PV cell coverage ratio of 0,87, air gap of 9 mm between the two glazing panes. It was found that a maximum energy saving of 983 kWh was achieved in Lhasa. A highest energy saving ratio of 83% was found in Kunming. The window integrated PV shows good energy saving potential under different climatic conditions in Southwest China. The highlights of this paper could be collected as below: • C-Si PV window with reasonable c-Si cells arrangement was designed. • The energy consumption of the building with PV windows was tested. • The design of STPV façade was optimized by the test and simulation results. • The energy saving potential of c-Si PV window in Southwest China is studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems are meeting with their limitations. By incorporating thermoelectric radiant system with PV module, a prototype of building integrated photovoltaic thermoelectric (BIPVTE) wall system is proposed and numerically investigated. The system model of BIPVTE wall is established and validated by experimental data. The comprehensive system performance evaluation is conducted based on the comparison with the traditional PV wall and massive wall in hot summer and cold winter zone of China. The comparison between BIPVTE and PV wall in steady state can explain the system working mechanism as well as its weakness. Besides, the typical-day, seasonal and annual dynamic performance evaluations are implemented for the application potential analysis of BIPVTE in Changsha city and other four typical modern cities. The results indicate that BIPVTE wall can achieve noticeable reduction of annual heating/cooling load. The highest energy saving ratio of 172% compared with the massive wall is achieved under Shanghai weather condition. This system has the potential to make contribution to zero energy buildings and low exergy buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]