Search

This student thesis explores the risks associated with integrated photovoltaic (PV) façades and the challenges associated with implementing them in construction projects. Underlining the significance of curbing greenhouse gas emissions and the potential for PV facades to transform the construction sector, concerns regarding fire safety have surfaced as a primary obstacle. The thesis aims to answer three main questions: how Swedish regulations for PV facades compare with international ones, what fire safety issues exist with PV facades, and what fire risks and measures can be implemented to mitigate these risks. Employing a combination of literature review and expert interviews, a mixed-methods approach is adopted. The outcome reveals that while Swedish regulations are open to interpretation, international regulations have more recommendations for building fireproof PV facades. The thesis also highlights the major fire engineering problem with PV facades, which is the integrated fire risk, and lists possible measures to reduce this risk. Overall, this thesis provides valuable insights into the challenges of implementing PV facades in construction projects and offers recommendations to mitigate fire safety risks.

The construction industry has always been changing and adapting to new innovations, values, requirements, and goals from the outside world. These days are no different. The climate change is still mostly relevant and everything we could do to mitigate this should be applied in the construction sector. It is nowadays a known fact that buildings represent a significant portion of the carbon dioxide emissions to our atmosphere. This calls for green solutions, and one of the more prominent innovations in modern times are the photovoltaic (PV) systems. PVs has been around for some years now and it seem to just keep growing. The newest innovation in the PV evolution is the use of Building Integrated Photovoltaic Systems (BIPVs), where the system has been integrated into the wall and produces energy for the building it is serving. This student thesis aims to contribute to an increased knowledge in the subject, identify challenges and solutions relating to the use of BIPV’s in residential and commercial developments. This to present a good starting platform for any consultant involved in projects where BIPV’s will be integrated in the building. First step was to conduct a literature review to gain greater understanding of the subject and to come up with relevant questions for the interview study. The interview attendees was chosen from different fields in the industry and different countries, this to get a wider scope and more opinions as their focus might vary depending on their roll and where they are located. Recommendations from colleagues and other actors were also very useful to find relevant attendees for the interviews. Manufacturers, fire brigades, and fire engineers were interviewed. Focus was to interview actors who has been in contact with this new technology and to learn from two BIPV-projects, Sara Kulturhus and 550 Spencer Street. Issues and possible solutions were identified as a result of the literature review and interview study. The conclusions show that

Today's world faces multiple challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and food security. In addition, in the post-pandemic era, there is an urgent need to re-design urban habitats to reduce the epidemic's enduring impacts and reconnect citizens with healthy community activities. As a city with the top population density level in the world, Hong Kong is home to many high-rise communities. This article took the architectural design competition “Green Tower Hong Kong” as an entry point to discuss the technical feasibility and design strategies of integrating high-rise residential buildings with urban agriculture to improve urban food security, enhance on-site solar energy utilization, and develop a sustainable residential environment conducive to low-carbon living and working. The issue of how to improve the dietary structure of Hong Kong residents and reconnect them through space design was focused. Finally, taking the site of Kwun Tong Center as the case study, a resilient residential high-rise building integrated with shared gardens and greenhouses was proposed with a technical-oriented methodology and optimization framework. The final design of mixed-use buildings can provide apartments for 2500 individuals, produce 340,750 kg of vegetables with 156 % self-sufficiency, and generate electricity of 1,080,000 kWh annually. This paper examines strategies for integrating urban agriculture into high-rise residential buildings in high-density urban environments. It proposes a technology-based design optimization method, offering a reference for future explorations of low-carbon, resilient communities.

This study explores the thermal behavior of Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) façades, focusing on the impact of different mounting configurations and colored interlayers. Two experimental setups are analyzed to investigate the operating temperatures of PV modules. The first setup consists of single-cell mini-modules including both colored and uncolored modules operating under ventilated and insulated conditions. The Sandia model is utilized to correlate cell temperatures and module backside temperatures, for which new empirical I-T coefficients are determined for the different configurations and colored interlayers. The second setup consists of a BIPV container with a south-facing 16-module BIPV curtain wall façade. The modules are mounted with different air gap sizes to examine the effects of rear ventilation on module temperature. The results highlight the significant impact of mounting design and display the complicated nature of temperature distribution of BIPV systems. This research aims to contribute to a broader understanding of the influence that BIPV system integration in architecture has on module operating temperatures.

The number of installed photovoltaic (PV) modules has increased significantly over the last years, and using available building surfaces to generate electricity by integrating PV modules in the construction is an attractive option. Building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) or other vented claddings can spread fires rapidly to large parts of a building if the fire is allowed to propagate. To investigate this hazard, a large-scale SP FIRE 105 façade fire test was conducted. A façade measuring 4000 mm × 6000 mm covered with BIPV modules was exposed to flames that represent the fire plume from a window in a room at flashover. The results from the test show that critical failures, like falling objects and vertical flame propagation, can be expected in such constructions. These results highlight the importance of details in mounting of BIPV-façades and to require proper documentation from relevant fire tests of such systems. Small-scale cone calorimeter tests were conducted on the studied BIPV module to provide material properties of the combustible parts of the installation. These aspects should be considered when planning new or when retrofitting façades, to prevent escalation of fires. The results presented are, however, only valid for the configuration that was tested. Other BIPV-façades should also be investigated to study how these constructions can be built safely in the future with regard to critical details., This research is supported by the Fire Research and Innovation Centre (FRIC), funded by the Research Council of Norway (Project no. 294649) and project partners. The authors would also thank the C40 Urban Village project led by OBOS with support from Multiconsult, Hunton and Innovation Norway for initiating, planning and financing the test and sharing data.

This Master's thesis focuses on the integration of renewable energy sources onto a specific building, ‘Building I’ located at the UPC, Diagonal Besòs campus in Barcelona, Spain. The objective of the study is to explore the potential of on-site energy generation and consequent CO2 emission reduction by taking advantage of the different surfaces of the building with high potential of energy generation, with an effort to decarbonize the building sector which is responsible for about 40 % of the European Union’s energy consumption. The research methodology involved creating a detailed 3D model of the building using Building Information Modelling (BIM) software Autodesk Revit and conducting solar analysis to assess the incident solar irradiation on each surface. Solar panels were strategically installed on surfaces with high solar potential based on market research and energy output calculations guided by established principles. The study also considered mini wind energy systems for roof applications but determined that solar panels provided a more efficient use of available space. The study draws its data from various sources, including web based research from research papers, industry professionals, campus directories, official regulatory and governmental bodies, and computer softwares such as Autodesk Revit, in order to make the study as accurate as possible. The integrated renewable energy systems were found to generate a total of up to 201.853 MWh of energy annually and up to 5,691.193 MWh over a 30-year lifespan. This resulted in a reduction of approximately 1553.69 tons of CO2 emissions over the life cycle and contributed to a 38.22 % reduction in the building's energy consumption and a 6.49 % reduction in the campus' overall energy consumption. Furthermore, an economic analysis was conducted, including the calculation of the payback period and return on investment. The estimated payback period was found to be 12 years with some assumptions taken, indicating the t, Aquesta tesi de màster se centra en la integració de fonts d'energia renovables a un edifici concret, l''Edifici I', situat al campus Diagonal Besòs de la UPC, a Barcelona, Espanya. L´objectiu de l´estudi és explorar el potencial de generació d´energia in situ i la consegüent reducció d´emissions de CO2 mitjançant l´aprofitament de les diferents superfícies de l´edifici amb alt potencial de generació d´energia, amb un esforç per descarbonitzar el sector de l´edificació que és responsable del voltant del 40% del consum energètic de la Unió Europea. La metodologia de recerca va consistir a crear un model 3D detallat de l'edifici utilitzant el programari de modelatge d'informació d'edificis (BIM) Autodesk Revit i fer una anàlisi solar per avaluar la irradiació solar incident a cada superfície. Els panells solars es van instal·lar estratègicament en superfícies amb alt potencial solar basant-se en estudis de mercat i càlculs de producció energètica guiats per principis establerts. L'estudi també va considerar sistemes d'energia minieòlica per a aplicacions en teulades, però va determinar que els panells solars proporcionaven un ús més eficient de l'espai disponible. Perquè l'estudi sigui el més precís possible, les dades procedeixen de diverses fonts, com ara estudis a Internet de treballs de recerca, professionals del sector, directoris de campus, organismes oficials reguladors i governamentals i programes informàtics com Autodesk Revit. Es va descobrir que els sistemes integrats d'energia renovable generaven un total de fins a 201.853 MWh d'energia a l'any i fins a 5,691.193 MWh al llarg d'una vida útil de 30 anys. Això es va traduir en una reducció d'aproximadament 1553,69 tones d'emissions de CO2 al llarg del cicle de vida i va contribuir a una reducció del 38,22% del consum energètic de l'edifici i del 6,49% del consum energètic global del campus . A més, es va fer una anàlisi econòmica que incloïa el càlcul del període d'amortització i el rendiment de la inversió., Esta tesis de máster se centra en la integración de fuentes de energía renovables en un edificio concreto, el 'Edificio I', situado en el campus Diagonal Besòs de la UPC, en Barcelona, España. El objetivo del estudio es explorar el potencial de generación de energía in situ y la consiguiente reducción de emisiones de CO2 mediante el aprovechamiento de las diferentes superficies del edificio con alto potencial de generación de energía, con un esfuerzo por descarbonizar el sector de la edificación que es responsable de alrededor del 40% del consumo energético de la Unión Europea. La metodología de investigación consistió en crear un modelo 3D detallado del edificio utilizando el software de modelado de información de edificios (BIM) Autodesk Revit y realizar un análisis solar para evaluar la irradiación solar incidente en cada superficie. Los paneles solares se instalaron estratégicamente en superficies con alto potencial solar basándose en estudios de mercado y cálculos de producción energética guiados por principios establecidos. El estudio también consideró sistemas de energía minieólica para aplicaciones en tejados, pero determinó que los paneles solares proporcionaban un uso más eficiente del espacio disponible. Para que el estudio sea lo más preciso posible, los datos proceden de diversas fuentes, como estudios en Internet de trabajos de investigación, profesionales del sector, directorios de campus, organismos oficiales reguladores y gubernamentales y programas informáticos como Autodesk Revit. Se descubrió que los sistemas integrados de energía renovable generaban un total de hasta 201,853 MWh de energía al año y hasta 5.691,193 MWh a lo largo de una vida útil de 30 años. Esto se tradujo en una reducción de aproximadamente 1553,69 toneladas de emisiones de CO2 a lo largo del ciclo de vida y contribuyó a una reducción del 38,22 % del consumo energético del edificio y del 6,49 % del consumo energético global del campus. Además, se realizó un análisis económico q

The photovoltaic module building integration level affects the module temperature and, consequently, its output power. In this work, a methodology has been proposed to estimate the influence of the level of architectural photovoltaic integration on the photovoltaic energy balance with natural ventilation or with forced cooling systems. The developed methodology is applied for five photovoltaic module technologies (m-Si, p-Si, a-Si, CdTe, and CIGS) on four characteristic locations (Athens, Davos, Stockholm, and Würzburg). To this end, a photovoltaic module thermal radiation parameter, PVj, is introduced in the characterization of the PV module technology, rendering the correlations suitable for building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) applications, with natural ventilation or with forced cooling systems. The results show that PVj has a significant influence on the energy balances, according to the architectural photovoltaic integration and climatic conditions.

The energy requirements for dwellings in tropical equatorial climates are significant and ongoing throughout the year. Fortunately, significant and stable irradiation exists. We propose the redesign of a local-style, single-family home with a layout for a typical family of four. The methodology consists of real data on the electricity consumption of an existing case of a typical family, which is considered the source of the energy requirements to determine improvements. Once the house is characterized, it is redesigned. Its energetic behaviour is simulated with virtual tools such as ArchiCAD from Graphisoft and DesignBuilder to introduce passive strategies. Photovoltaic (PV) electrical self-supply of the building is integrated, and the inclusion of electric vehicles is considered. The house is virtually built as a dwelling with similar functions, but solar passive and active strategies are integrated to achieve high energy performance. The roof envelope configuration is the main energy source, and interior overheating is the cause. An initial reduction of 36.97% in energy requirements with only passive strategies and a double-ventilated roof is estimated. When simulating PV capability with the System Advisor Model software, nine standard PV 380 Wp panels are sized for the roof to meet the estimated power requirements, and nine additional units are needed to supply electric transportation sufficient for a single family. A model that can scalably integrate PV in accordance with demand is proposed.

While colored photovoltaics are gaining popularity in the market for building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), several specific properties are not accounted for in standard PV performance models. This work shows how relying on the coloration efficiency alone can lead to significant errors regarding module temperatures. By comparing measured temperature data from a test installation featuring BIPV façade elements in multiple colors, little correlation is found between total optical losses (reflection and absorption losses) and module temperature. Instead, better correlation is found with total reflectance. This is attributed to the light absorbed in the pigment-based colored layers contributing to module heating, whereas reflected light does not. This is especially relevant for colors with high lightness, such as gray or beige, for which reflection losses are dominating absorption losses. When modelling colored BIPV products, it is therefore recommended to only consider reflection losses for the irradiance contributing to module heating, while continuing to also include absorption losses for the effective irradiance used in electrical performance modelling.

With the sharp increase in global energy demand, industrial and residential buildings are responsible for around 40% of the energy consumed with most of this energy portion being generated by non-renewable sources, which significantly contribute to global warming and environmental hazards. The net-zero energy building (NZEB) concept attempts to solve the global warming issue, whereby a building will produce, on-site, its required energy demand throughout the year from renewable energy sources. This can be achieved by integrating photovoltaic (PV) building materials, called building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) modules, throughout the building skin, which simultaneously act as construction materials and energy generators. Currently, architects and builders are inclined to design a building using BIPV modules due to the limited colors available, namely, black or blue, which result in a monotonous building appearance. Therefore, there is an increasing demand/need to develop modern, aesthetically pleasing BIPV green energy products for the use of architects and the construction industry. This review article presents the current stage and future goal of advanced building integrated photovoltaic systems, focusing on the aesthetically appealing BIPV systems, and their applications towards overcoming global challenges and stepping forward to achieve a sustainable green energy building environment. Additionally, we present the summary and outlook for the future development of aesthetically appealing building integrated photovoltaic systems.

The EU crystalline silicon (c-Si) PV manufacturing industry has faced strong foreign competition in the last decade. To strive in this competitive environment and differentiate itself from the competition, the EU c-Si PV manufacturing industry needs to (1) focus on highly performing c-Si PV technologies, (2) include sustainability by design, and (3) develop differentiated PV module designs for a broad range of PV applications to tap into rapidly growing existing and new markets. This is precisely the aim of the 3.5 years long H2020 funded HighLite project, which started in October 2019 under the work program LC-SC3-RES-15-2019: Increase the competitiveness of the EU PV manufacturing industry. To achieve this goal, the HighLite project focuses on bringing two advanced PV module designs and the related manufacturing solutions to higher technology readiness levels (TRL). The first module design aims to combine the benefits of n-type silicon heterojunction (SHJ) cells (high efficiency and bifaciality potential, improved sustainability, rapidly growing supply chain in the EU) with the ones of shingle assembly (higher packing density, improved modularity, and excellent aesthetics). The second module design is based on the assembly of low-cost industrial interdigitated back-contact (IBC) cells cut in half or smaller, which is interesting to improve module efficiencies and increase modularity (key for application in buildings, vehicles, etc.). This contribution provides an overview of the key results achieved so far by the HighLite project partners and discusses their relevance to help raise the EU PV industries' competitiveness. We report on promising high-efficiency industrial cell results (24.1% SHJ cell with a shingle layout and 23.9% IBC cell with passivated contacts), novel approaches for high-throughput laser cutting and edge re-passivation, module designs for BAPV, BIPV, and VIPV applications passing extended testing, and first 1-year outdoor monitoring results c, Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository ‘You share, we take care!’ – Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public., Photovoltaic Materials and Devices

The greening of urban environments plays a crucial role in mitigating the adverse effects of urbanization, such as air pollution and the urban heat island effect, and can provide numerous benefits to residents, including opportunities for leisure and improved mental health. On the other hand, there is a great demand to utilize renewable energy systems in cities to mitigate greenhouse gas emission. Building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) technology is one of the most promising solutions to harvest clean electricity on-site and support the zero carbon transition of cities. The combination of BIPV and green spaces in urban environments presents a mutually advantageous scenario, providing multiple benefits and optimized land usage. However, despite its promising potential, there is a dearth of scientific research systematically examining this integrated strategy. This paper investigated three key aspects related to the integration of BIPV systems and greenery in urban environments. Specifically, the paper aimed to explore: 1) the overall design considerations and performance impacts of integrated BIPV systems and greenery; 2) the challenges involved in integrating these two systems; and 3) the prospects of this integrated approach. The methodology of this paper involved a comprehensive review and analysis of the integration of BIPV systems and greenery in urban environments. This examination was conducted from various perspectives, including shading, irrigation, energy performance, aesthetics, materials, and installation. The principal findings of this research are twofold: firstly, the integration of BIPV and greening can yield mutually beneficial outcomes; and secondly, the cooling effect of greening on photovoltaic systems primarily hinges on the distance between the two components and the surrounding microclimate. These research findings underscore the potential of coupling BIPV systems with greening, positioning it as a sustainable and advantageous approach for fut

The need for sustainable and eco-friendly energy sources has led to a surge in the demand for net-zero energy buildings (NZEBs). Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPVs) is emerging as a promising technology for achieving this goal as the construction industry has a significant impact on global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. NZEB design aims to produce the energy required for building operations through building-integrated renewable energy sources. However, the visual distortion and limited color options namely black, or blue present in the current BIPV products have resulted in monotonous building appearances, limiting their adoption by architects and builders. To overcome these challenges, various studies have focused on developing aesthetically pleasing BIPV green energy products, such as semitransparent PV (STPV) glass and multicolor photovoltaic (PV) modules. The highly efficient and semitransparent periodic micropattern-based PV (PMPV) glass that is currently available in the market faces a notable issue with visual distortion, which considerably restricts its visual appeal. To overcome this issue, in this study, an aperiodic micropattern-based PV (AMPV) glass (CdTe based thin film PV module) is designed and developed. The AMPV module significantly reduces the visual distortion, demonstrating a haze ratio of 3.7%, compared to the 10.7% of PMPV glass. On the other hand, a study of micro-patterned-based color photovoltaic (MPCPV) modules, is designed, developed, and characterized to overcome the limitations of color options of BIPVs. The MPCPV module exhibits an aesthetically attractive and flexible building color suitable for industrial applications that possess an efficiency of 9.6%, which is 4.1% higher than a single-color PV module (5.5%) but closer to a conventional CdTe based thin-film PV module (14.5%). The results suggest that the developed color PV module is suitable for modern infrastructures that will enable energy generation on-sit

Al següent treball es dissenyarà una instal·lació fotovoltaica a façanes i cobertes, d'un edifici històric, a la ciutat de Palma de Mallorca, mitjançant el concepte BIPV (Build Integrate Photovoltaics). Aquest treball forma part del projecte europeu ARV. L'objectiu d’aquest projecte es contribuir a la implementació de Comunitats Circulars Climàticament Positives, àrees urbanes l'objectiu de les quals és aconseguir zero emissions netes de gasos d'efecte hivernacle, permetre la flexibilitat energètica i promoure l'economia circular i la sostenibilitat social. Per realitzar aquesta tasca, s'utilitzarà l'eina SketchUp i el plugin Skelion. SketchUp permet el disseny 3D i el modelatge, mentre que Skelion ens permet col·locar els panells solars en aquestes façanes i realitzar simulacions. Skelion obté dades de radiació solar i té en compte les ombres generades per les estructures creades a SketchUp. D'aquesta manera es podran obtenir informes de producció i optimitzar la instal·lació determinant quines zones de l'edifici són òptimes per a la implementació d'aquestes tecnologies de producció elèctrica neta, que no emet gasos d'efecte hivernacle. Al mateix temps que es va desenvolupant les diferents parts d'aquest treball, es compararan les dues eines per a l'obtenció de paràmetres de radiació solar i rendiment energètic que permet utilitzar Skelion, d'una banda PVGIS, desenvolupada per la Unió Europea, més concretament per l'EU Science Hub, i per altra banda PVWatts, desenvolupada pel Laboratori Nacional d'Energies Renovables (NREL)., En el siguiente trabajo se va a diseñar una instalación fotovoltaica en fachadas y cubiertas, de un edificio histórico, en la ciudad de Palma de Mallorca, mediante el concepto BIPV (Build Integrate Photovoltaics). Este trabajo forma parte del proyecto europeo ARV. El objetivo de este es contribuir a la implementación de Comunidades Circulares Climáticamente Positivas, áreas urbanas cuyo objetivo es lograr cero emisiones netas de gases de efecto invernadero, permite la flexibilidad energética y promueve la economía circular y la sostenibilidad social. Para realizar esta tarea, se va a utilizar la herramienta SketchUp, y su plugin Skelion. SketchUp perite el diseño 3D y el modelaje, mientras que Skelion nos permite colocar los paneles solares en estas fachadas y realizar simulaciones, Skelion obtiene datos de radiación solar y tiene en cuenta las sombras generadas las estructuras creadas en SketchUp. De esta manera se van a poder obtener informes de producción y optimizar la instalación determinando que zonas del edificio son óptimas para la implementación de estas tecnologías de producción eléctrica limpia, que no emite gases de efecto invernadero. Al mismo que se va desarrollando las diferentes partes de este trabajo, se van a comparar las dos herramientas para la obtención parámetros de radiación solar y rendimiento energético que permite utilizar Skelion, por un lado PVGIS, desarrollada por la Unión Europea, más en concreto por la EU Science Hub, y por otro lado PVWatts, desarrollada por el Laboratorio Nacional de Energías Renovables (NREL)., In the following work we are going to design a photovoltaic installation on facades and roofs of a historic building in the city of Palma de Mallorca, using the BIPV (Build Integrate Photovoltaics) concept. This work is part of the European ARV project. The objective of the ARV project is to contribute to the implementation of Climate Positive Circular Communities, urban areas that aim to achieve zero net greenhouse gas emissions, enable energy flexibility, and promote circular economy and social sustainability. To accomplish this task, the software SketchUp and the plugin Skelion will be used. SketchUp allows 3D design and modeling, while Skelion allows us to place the solar panels on these facades and perform simulations, Skelion obtains solar radiation data and considers the shadows generated by the structures created in SketchUp. In this way, we will be able to obtain production reports and optimize the installation by determining which areas of the building are optimal for the implementation of these clean electricity production technologies, which do not emit greenhouse gases. While the different parts of this work are being developed, we will compare the two tools for obtaining solar radiation and energy yield parameters that Skelion allows, on the one hand PVGIS, developed by the European Union, more specifically by the EU Science Hub, and on the other hand PVWatts, developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

The building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) system is one of the contributors which has enormous potential to reach the goal of net-zero energy buildings (NZEB) that significantly reduce the use of fossil fuels that contribute to global warming. However, the limitations of the visual and aesthetic appearance of current BIPV systems make this aspiration unlikely. This study investigates the limitations of the single-color-based PV modules that are dull in appearance and have low photo-conversion efficiency (PCE). In order to solve this issue, we designed, developed, and characterized micro-patterned-based multicolored photovoltaic (MPCPV) modules which are applicable to net-zero building and development. Our newly developed MPCPV module exhibits an aesthetically attractive and flexible building color suitable for industrial application. Furthermore, the MPCPV module possesses an efficiency of 9.6%, which is 4.1% higher than a single-color PV module (5.5%) but closer to conventional thin-film PV modules. In addition, the other output parameters, such as short-circuit current (Isc), open-circuit voltage (Voc), maximum power (Pmax), and fill factor (FF), indicate that our developed colored PV module is suitable for modern infrastructures that will enable energy generation on-site without compromising the aesthetic appearance. Finally, this research will have a substantial influence on the NZEB and will play an important part in the development of a sustainable environment.

The increase in global population, which negatively affects energy consumption, CO2 emissions, and arable land, necessitates designing sustainable habitation alternatives. Self-sufficient high-rise buildings, which integrate (electricity) generation and efficient usage of resources with dense habitation, can be a sustainable solution for future urbanisation. This paper focuses on transforming Europoint Towers in Rotterdam into self-sufficient buildings considering energy consumption and food production (lettuce crops) using artificial intelligence. Design parameters consist of the number of farming floors, shape, and the properties of the proposed façade skin that includes shading devices. Nine thousand samples are collected from various floor levels to predict self-sufficiency criteria using artificial neural networks (ANN). Optimisation problems with 117 decision variables are formulated using 45 ANN models that have very high prediction accuracies. 13 optimisation algorithms are used for an in-detail investigation of self-sufficiency at the building scale, and potential sufficiency at the neighbourhood scale. Results indicate that 100% and 43.7% self-sufficiencies could be reached for lettuce crops and electricity, respectively, for three buildings with 1800 residents. At the neighbourhood scale, lettuce production could be sufficient for 27,000 people with a decrease of self-sufficiency in terms of energy use of up to 11.6%. Consequently, this paper discusses the potentials and the improvements for self-sufficient high-rise buildings., Design Informatics

On a global scale the move towards renewable energy is at its highest rates, new technological developments aiming to increase efficiency of energy production and reducing overall cost, making renewables viable on all scales. United Arab Emirates is one of the countries that are pioneering in the area of renewable green energy, with the goal is to increase the contribution of green energy up to 50% by the year 2050 and reduce the carbon footprint by 70 % by increasing consumption efficiency and introducing versatile energy sources that are more sustainable. Considering that the region solar energy provides prospects in terms of energy yields and project scalability. Specially within the building sector, which is an energy demanding sector, lies the opportunity to cover the energy requirements through implementation of localized solar energy generating schemes in the form of standalone PV panels and building integrated photovoltaics. Moreover, applying novel innovations in solar power to maximize energy yields. One of these technologies is bifacial photovoltaic panels, which is a type of PV panels that produce electricity from both sides compared to regular Monofacial PV that utilize the front surface only. Studies shows that bifacial panels produce 25-40% more electricity than Monofacial panels in all installation schemes. This research examines the application of bifacial PV integrated within building elements, specifically double skin façade, where the Bifacial PV presents the second outer façade in a double skin façade configuration. The study objective is to analyze the bifaciality factor under different façade material and façade gap distances using ray tracing computer simulation software (TracePro). Bifaciality factor is the ratio of irradiance hitting the rear of solar panel to the total irradiance, which is a parameter to evaluate the performance of bifacial PV panels. The optical performance of the façade envelope directly affects the value of bifaciality

We present a multifunctional structural coloration strategy for solar cell glass covers based on all-dielectric nanoscatterer arrays. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanostructures are designed to efficiently scatter in the visible and absorb in the UV region, making them suitable candidates as UV absorptive color coatings. Results from finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulations on a square lattice of TiO2 nanocylinders show that a rich palette in the reflected colors can be obtained by varying the period of the lattice. The reflected colors are narrow-banded, with a typical FWHM similar to 11-17 nm, leading to a minimal penalty on the amount of transmitted light. This narrow band reflectance is attributed to the interaction of Mie resonances between individual scatterers with their neighbors in the lattice. The color appearance, with viewing angles of similar to 45 degrees, is maintained for incidence angles up to similar to 70 degrees. With TiO2 being transparent for a major part of silicon solar cells spectral response (400-1100 nm), a loss of similar to 4.5-9.2% in the short-circuit current has been estimated in the specified wavelength range, primarily due to the loss of photons in the reflected light. Furthermore, due to the inherent UV-absorption properties of TiO2, the proposed color-cover designs reduce the transmittance of UV radiation (320-400 nm) by up to similar to 63.70%, potentially preventing the degradation of the encapsulation materials and thus increasing the lifetime expectancy of a solar panel., QC 20220610

An online survey in spring 2017 with 552 persons from the German-speaking part of Switzerland, which were representative in terms of age and sex, was conducted. The questionnaire included amongst others items on general acceptance, individual acceptance factors found in the literature and risk perceptions associated with BIPV in general, as well as a set of questions regarding attitudes towards specific building design prototypes with BIPV (designed by EPFL-LAST).

Today, photovoltaic technology is one of the fastest-growing fields of technology and is becoming the lowest-cost option for electricity generation in the greatest part of the world. Based on IEA projection, the number of households relying on solar PV grows from today’s 25 million to more than 100 million by 2030. Based on this projection, we must use all surfaces on and around buildings of an entire city to absorb solar radiation and transform it into usable electricity (or useful heat). However, current attempts to harness these potentials within the built environment leaves much to be desired. It is readily apparent that the current roof-top installation approach is neither aesthetically appealing nor technically efficient and consequently not sustainable, long-term, and reliable. Back in the 1990s, the Integration approach was introduced to address these issues. However, the introduction of this solution has neither increased popularity nor helped with untapping the solar energy potentials within the built environment. The fundamental problem addressed in this dissertation is the lack of appropriate guidance and well-structured knowledge about the approaches and considerations which should be deliberated in the design and decision-making process for deploying PV technology in architecture. The overarching goal of this research is to promote the use of PV technology in the built environment while being thoughtful of the symbiotic and functional relationship between the technology and the urban fabric. Specifically, it aims to support the decision-making process required for the adoption and development of photovoltaic products in the built environment. This thesis builds upon the interrelations between the concept of Integration, design decisions, and technological decisions. As the starting point, we looked into ‘integration’ as an alternative approach to the existing addition or attachment of PV into buildings. To do so, we explored given definitions, Climate Design and Sustainability

Partial shading is widely considered to be a limiting factor in the performance of photovoltaic (PV) systems applied in urban environments. Modern system architectures, combined with per module deployment of power electronics, have been used to improve performance, especially at heterogeneous irradiance conditions, but they come with a high investment cost. In this paper, another approach is used to evaluate the selective deployment of power optimizers (SDPO), which can operate with a variety of string inverters and can be retrofitted in PV systems suffering from high shading losses. A combination of modelling and outdoor field testing showed the benefits and drawbacks of SDPOs in a variety of shading scenarios. Results suggest that there is an energy yield increase of 1–2% on an annual basis compared to that of a reference system. The exact level of increase depends on the shading patterns and combination scenarios used in this paper.

[ES] En este proyecto se trata el estudio y diseño de una instalación fotovoltaica conectada a la red e integrada en la fachada de las oficinas de una nave industrial dedicada a la fabricación de calzado situada en Almansa (Albacete). Se plantea este trabajo debido a la próxima reforma de la zona de oficinas y a los problemas de la empresa por el coste que genera el exceso de potencia consumida respecto a la contratada. Mediante una solución BIPV (Building Integrated Photovoltaics) consistente en paneles fotovoltaicos de tecnología de Silicio Amorfo (Si-a), se consigue generar electricidad a la vez que proporciona una solución estética para la fachada. Para ello, se realiza un estudio completo del proyecto, incluyendo los cálculos para el diseño del campo captador, los cálculos eléctricos de las protecciones de la instalación, el estudio y simulación tanto del sistema como del entorno mediante el software de simulación PvSyst y un estudio económico que fije su viabilidad. Por último, se adjunta el Pliego de Condiciones y el manual de uso y mantenimiento de la instalación fotovoltaica., [EN] This project contains the study and design of a grid-connected photovoltaic system integrated in the façade of the offices of an industrial building dedicated to the production of footwear placed in Almansa (Albacete). It is proposed because of the next reformation of the offices zone and the problems due to the high cost produced by the excess of power consumption. Through a BIPV (Building Integrated Photovoltaics) solution composed by Amorphous silicon solar panels, this study proposes a way of generating electricity at the same time that providing an aesthetic design for the façade. In order to achieve this, it is made a full study of the Project, including the calculation of the solar collector, the electric calculations of the system protection, the study by simulation of both system and enviroment with simulation software PvSyst and finally an economic study that assures the viability of the Project. Finally, it is attached the specification and the use and maintenance manual of the photovoltaic system.

Aesthetic appearance of building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) products, such as semi-transparent PV (STPV) glass, is crucial for their widespread adoption and contribution to the net-zero energy building (NZEB) goal. However, the visual distortion significantly limits the aesthetics of STPV glass. In this study, we investigate the distortion effect of transparent periodic-micropattern-based thin-film PV (PMPV) panels available in the market. To minimize the visual distortion of such PMPV glass panel types, we design and develop an aperiodic micropattern-based PV (APMP) glass that significantly reduces visual distortion. The developed APMP glass demonstrates a haze ratio of 3.7% compared to the 10.7% of PMPV glass. Furthermore, the developed AMPV glass shows an average visible transmittance (AVT) of 58.3% which is around 1.3 times higher than that of AMPV glass (43.8%). Finally, the measured CIELAB values (L* = 43.2, a* = −1.55, b* = −2.86.) indicate that our developed AMPV glass possesses excellent color neutrality, which makes them suitable for commercial applications. Based on the characterization results, this study will have a significant impact on the areas of smart window glasses that can play a vital role in developing a sustainable environment and enhancing the aesthetical appearance of net-zero energy buildings (NZEB).

Building Integrated Photovoltaic systems can produce a significant portion of the energy demand of urban areas. Despite their potential, they remain a niche technology that architects and project engineers still find esthetically limited. The dark blue or black color of standard photovoltaic panels is considered inappropriate for restoration projects of historic buildings and represents a major constraint on the development of new projects. This work will provide insight into how the use of optic filters can offer new pathways for architectural acceptance of photovoltaic panels. Optic filters selectively reflect or transmit light by interference and can be designed and fabricated using cost-effective and industrially compatible processes. By using in-house developed ray tracing software coupled with TCAD Sentaurus, more than 400 colors were obtained, and their impact on the opto-electrical performance of interdigitated back-contacted solar cells was studied. Results show a maximum efficiency loss of 1.6% absolute at the perpendicular incidence of light on the range of obtained colors when compared with a standard dark blue solar cell. Simulations for different angles of incidence showed that the current reduction on the standard device could be modeled using a cosine relationship. The colored cells, however, deviated significantly from this relationship. We propose that the angular behavior of any cell (colored or standard) could be simulated by modifying the effective irradiance with scaling factors equal to the ratios of the photogenerated current at any angle with respect to the value at normal incidence. We demonstrate that this approach accurately models the effect of the color filter and allows for an easy transition from a bare cell to an encapsulated one. Due to the spectral effect of the filter, we developed both a spectrally resolved optical model and a two-dimensional finite volume transient thermal model. In case of the optical model, we demonstrate a, Photovoltaic Materials and Devices, Electrical Sustainable Energy

“In which way can the design of the residential environment contribute to the social self-reliance of young people with a mild intellectual disability?” We are facing a huge challenge in the Netherlands: we have to build up to ‘1 Million Homes’ by 2030. But such a huge assignment raises the question if those new dwellings will be inclusive enough for all different users. What about young people with a mild intellectual disability? Due to the entrance of the ‘Wet Maatschappelijke Ondersteuning’ (WMO) in 2015 it is no longer possible to apply for their housing via the care for disabled people. They stay longer at home, because of their need of support. This despite their willingness to live independently, just like others., Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences | Dwelling

Researchers have reported that despite technological development in photovoltaic technology and substantial cost reduction, there is still a narrow interest in architectural photovoltaic applications (APA). Lack of interest is correlated to various bottlenecks, and one of them is a lack of knowledge among architects on the possibilities and approaches to adopt APA. In response to the issues mentioned, the aim of the research presented was collecting qualitative and quantitative information from architects as lessons learned and perceptions in regards to APA. In total, 30 architects with and without experience of using photovoltaics (PV) were invited and interviewed. They were asked about their experience, design and decision-making process with PV, their understanding of integration, and the decisive factors to use APA. The results showed apparent differences between the experiences and perceptions, and they highlighted the lessons learned from realized projects. The analysis of the visual implication of PV integration shows that, to the eyes of architects, integration of PV into architecture does not depend on the PV product used, but instead, that when PV is part of the design concept and design process, the outcome is seen as a meaningful integration., Climate Design and Sustainability, Building Product Innovation

Installation of solar PV is a measure that can contribute to great climate benefits when renovating buildings. This report, which is the final report of the project "Optimized renovation for efficient PV roofs" (short called EST), describes how property owners can contribute to increased climate benefits by considering the possibilities with PV installations when planning to renovate a building. The focus of the work has been PV installation in connection with roof renovation, but facades, which are increasingly mentioned in PV discussions, are also treated and we also touch on solar shading and balcony fronts that are potentially interesting for solar PV integration. Climate benefit means a minimization of the greenhouse gas emissions that occur through the energy use in the building and in the production of the building's constituent building materials, and that the excess solar exported from the plant can replace fossil-based power production, see sections 2.1 and 2.2. Section 2.3 “Well-planned solar PV renovation” gives an overall picture of the challenges facing those who want to achieve the greatest possible climate benefit, challenges that are discussed in the following sections. In the project, we have investigated different ways of maximizing the size of a photovoltaic system based on what the roof of a building can accommodate, which means that the size is optimized with regard to the climate benefits. In general, this gives a different result than an economic optimization where the latter results in significantly smaller systems. The reason is that the sale of larger electricity production surpluses in this segment is currently not as profitable as replacing the electricity you buy, with self-produced electricity. Most research reports and guidelines on the topic of optimal plant size also stop at economic optimization, often without even mentioning the possibility of going further to increase climate benefits. In this project, we have basically done the

This paper proposes an integrated simulation framework for both building design and energy performance analysis. Literature review shows that, although many studies exist, most of them did not fully consider the integrated techno-economic evaluation of building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) system. Therefore, this research aims to use the interoperability potential offered by applying a building information modelling BIM-friendly software to an integrated simulation tool to conduct a comprehensive techno-economic evaluation of a BIPV system in a building cluster. Through visual integration in a digital mock-up, the solar irradiation, surrounding shadings, BIPV location, BIPV components/system (string, inverter, battery), and economic analysis have been performed on a residential building cluster located in Ludvika, Sweden. The results show the optimal location for the 615 m(2) BIPV system with a yielding of 27,394 kWh/year. Under the defined boundary conditions, the payback period is 10 years in the mixed feed-in and self-consumption mode, over its 20 years' life span. Further sensitivity analysis of 18 cases is carried out in order to evaluate the impact of installation position (capacity), future climate change, shadings, and operating mode. This study will help improve decision-making by analysing the impact of the aforementioned factors on a BIPV system techno-economic performance.

Este trabajo proyecta cubiertas fotovoltaicas en un edificio de uso mixto de mediana altura, analizando el uso de tecnologías para diferentes niveles de integración arquitectónica, buscando máximo autoabastecimiento energético y reducción de emisiones. La metodología utilizada es la recolección y análisis de información desde lecturas de consumos temporales de medidores eléctricos con resolución cuarto-horaria, planillas de consumo eléctrico y registro, a través de encuestas, de la demanda de gas licuado de petróleo. Se analiza el consumo con datos acorde a la ocupación actual y se proyectan instalaciones fotovoltaicas considerando la ocupación teórica de distintas tecnologías. Con herramientas informáticas, se encuentra la adaptabilidad y ocupación fotovoltaica, y se simula la producción eléctrica, evidenciando las consecuencias de integración arquitectónica. Se determina que es posible incorporar hasta 338,4 m2 de captación con placas de silicio mono cristalino, pudiéndose alcanzar una producción de 196,8 kWh/m2/año y reduciendo potencialmente 47,2 t de CO2 anuales. Se estima un autoabastecimiento de hasta un 99,72% con el nivel de consumo eléctrico actual. Pero, si se considera la conversión de combustibles usados en el condominio a electricidad, extrapolado a máxima ocupación de usuarios posible y la inclusión de cargadores para vehículos eléctricos, este potencial se reduciría a 27,85%. Esto evidencia el importante potencial para introducir fuentes solares fotovoltaicas en el Ecuador dada la elevada y estable insolación anual promedio. Sin embargo, las políticas estatales y la falta de incentivos y esquemas de apoyo limitan la incorporación de estos sistemas., Aquest treball projecta cobertes fotovoltaiques en un edifici d'ús mixt de mitjana altura, analitzant l'ús de tecnologies per a diferents nivells d'integració arquitectònica, buscant màxim auto-abastiment energètic i reducció d'emissions. La metodologia feta servir és la recollida i anàlisi d'informació des de lectures de consums temporals de comptadors elèctrics amb resolució quart-horària, fulls de consum elèctric i registre, a través d'enquestes, de la demanda de gas liquat de petroli. S'analitza el consum amb dades d'acord a l'ocupació actual i es projecten instal·lacions fotovoltaiques considerant l'ocupació teòrica de diferents tecnologies. Amb eines informàtiques, es troba l'adaptabilitat i ocupació fotovoltaica, i es simula la producció elèctrica, evidenciant les conseqüències d'integració arquitectònica. Es determina que és possible incorporar fins 338,4 m2 de captació amb plaques de silici mico cristal·lí, podent-se aconseguir una producció de 196,8 kWh / m2 / any i reduint potencialment 47,2 t de CO2 anuals. S'estima un auto-abastiment de fins a un 99,72% amb el nivell de consum elèctric actual. Però, si es considera la conversió de combustibles usats en el condomini a electricitat, extrapolat a màxima ocupació d'usuaris possible i la inclusió de carregadors per a vehicles elèctrics, aquest potencial es reduiria a 27,85%. Això evidencia l'important potencial per introduir fonts solars fotovoltaiques a l'Equador donada l'elevada i estable insolació anual mitjana. No obstant això, les polítiques estatals i la falta d'incentius i esquemes de suport limiten la incorporació d'aquests sistemes., This research analyzes photovoltaic roofs in a medium-size mixed-use building, evaluating solar technologies for different levels of architectural integration, with the goal of achieving maximum energy self-sufficiency and emission reductions. The implemented methodology collects and analyzes data from temporary electric consumption readings of electric meters with a quarter-hour resolution, electricity consumption sheets, and registration of the demand for liquefied petroleum gas through surveys. The electric consumption of the building is analyzed using current occupation data and the projection of photovoltaic installations is done considering the theoretical usage of different technologies. Computer tools are used to find the adaptability and photovoltaic occupation, and to simulate the electrical production, showing the consequences of architectural integration. The findings of the study show that it is possible to incorporate 338.4 m² of monocrystalline silicon modules, reaching a production of 196.8 kWh/m2/year and potentially reducing 47.2 t of CO2 per year. It is estimated that energy self-sufficiency can reach up to 99.72% with current levels of electricity consumption. However, if the added electricity from the conversion of fuel consumption in the building to electricity is considered, extrapolated to the maximum possible user occupation and inclusion of electric chargers for vehicles, this estimate is reduced to 27.85%. This demonstrates that there is a significant potential for introducing solar energy sources in Ecuador, given the high and stable average annual insolation of the country. However, state policies and the lack of incentives and support limit the incorporation of these systems., Este trabajo es parte del proyecto de investigación: “Abastecimiento energético renovable desde recursos endógenos, en ciudades de países en vías de desarrollo en el marco del metabolismo urbano. Caso de Estudio Cuenca, Ecuador”. Se agradece a la Dirección de Investigación de la Universidad de Cuenca (DIUC), Centro de Investigación de la Facultad de Arquitectura (CINA) de la Universidad de Cuenca y la Universidad Politécnica Salesiana por el apoyo brindado. Al Condominio Pinar del Lago por la información facilitada para el desarrollo de la presente investigación y la Empresa Eléctrica Regional Centro Sur, por las facilidades prestadas en el montaje de equipos de medición., Peer Reviewed

The use of solar photovoltaic has strongly increased in the last decade. A significant part of this growth comes from home owners installing rooftop photovoltaic. Despite this key role, most long-term model-based scenarios do not consider decentralized supply of rooftop photovoltaic but concentrate on utility-scale photovoltaic instead. In this paper, we implement rooftop photovoltaic in the Integrated Assessment Model IMAGE to study its possible role in energy and climate scenarios. We first calculated the global technical and economic potential to derive regional cost-supply curves for rooftop photovoltaic. Next, we have added a new decision in the IMAGE model allowing household investment in rooftop photovoltaic based on the comparison of the whole-sale electricity price with the price of rooftop photovoltaic. The global suitable roof surface area was assessed at 36 billion m2, or 4.7 m2 capita−1, leading to a potential for rooftop photovoltaic of 8.3 PWh y−1, roughly 1.5 times the 2015 global residential electricity demand. In the baseline scenario, adding rooftop photovoltaic could lead to a 80–280% increased share of photovoltaic electricity production in 2050 (i.e. from 6% to 17% in total power production). This increase depends on regional characteristics that are essential to the deployment of rooftop photovoltaic: differences in social-economic and policy factors (capital costs, household income, and electricity prices) are considerably more important than physical factors, such as solar irradiance.

La tesis aborda un problema actual y de ámbito global como es la mitigación del cambio climático. Dado que la demanda de energía va a seguir en aumento en años futuros, se trabaja en una alternativa para disminuir las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero en un contexto de desarrollo sostenible dentro del sector de la construcción. Actualmente, la tecnología fotovoltaica basada en silicio cristalino todavía domina el mercado fotovoltaico. Sin embargo, para aplicaciones finalistas como la integración de sistemas fotovoltaicos en edificios, más conocidos como BIPV (Building Integrated PhotoVoltaics), presenta importantes barreras (rigidez, alto peso y medidas estándar rectangulares no modificables sobre demanda). El objetivo de la tesis es estudiar el uso de las tecnologías de lámina delgada en sistemas BIPV caracterizando parámetros eléctricos y térmicos considerados puntos clave para identificar el potencial técnico de estas tecnologías.

This paper assesses the performance of photovoltaic (PV) technologies integrated into buildings in the desert climate and the factors that affect energy yield. Cadmium telluride (CdTe) and standard monocrystalline silicon (c-Si) modules were installed facing south, in the three more common tilt angles used in the Building Applied Photovoltaics (BAPV) and Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) applications at the Dubai latitude (90°, 25°, and 0°). We monitored the energy production, the temperature of the PV modules, irradiance on each tilt angle, and the meteorological parameters for a full year. We then calculated the performance ratio for the six modules to evaluate the different factors, including temperature and soiling losses, following IEC 61724-1. The 25° modules, usual PV rooftop angle, had the highest and more consistent energy yield throughout the year. Conversely, the energy yield of the 90° modules, typical angle for facades, vertical shading devices, and guardrails, had the lowest yield and showed wide variations. This is expected as the 90° angle is more affected by the seasonal changes of the solar altitude. The soiling losses on these modules were lower than 1%. However, at 0°, the soiling loss was more evident, with an average reduction of 10.79%. The c-Si module at 25° generated the highest normalized energy yield of 402.02 kW h/m2, which was 23.5% more than that of CdTe module with the same tilt angle.

[EN] The solar radiation assessment is a key factor for this growth as it is the critical variable for all solar energy generation systems. EKO instruments has developed a sensor that integrates six photodiodes to measure solar irradiance upwards (global horizontal), downwards (ground reflected) and irradiance in all four cardinal directions for vertical surfaces. It is believed that the extra data would reduce uncertainty in prediction of PV outputs during the design phase and performance verification during the PV plant operation. This could therefore enhance the investment in vertical PV systems such as BIPV or east-west BF plants. In the first place, an investigation on the optimal transposition model for BIPV facades with GHI as the only input was carried out. A decomposition model fitted for the studied region was created. Two different study cases were conducted with the intention of identifying the optimal transposition model among the five studied and to account for the inaccuracies that the new decomposition model might introduced to the process. The results validated the use of the new decomposition model for south facing surfaces. Nevertheless, its use for non south-facing surfaces did not show the same accuracy, which was increased when the uncertainties of the GHI sensor were taken into account. None of the anisotropic studied models can be declared as the best performing, nor does any particular model demonstrate clear advantages over the others for the location and scenarios studied here. The measurements from the vertical sensors in the MDPD within a five month period were compared to the transposed irradiance from a PD installed nearby. The inherent errors that project developers of vertical PV systems should account for in the choice between the use of measured (MDPD) or transposed data (and the associated transposition model choice) were accurately quantified. For north facing surfaces, the average error of each predicted irradiance value over th, [ES] En este proyecto, el alumno trabajará con mediciones tomadas por un sensor de fotodiodo multidireccional (MDPD) desarrollado por EKO Instruments. El MDPD consta de seis fotodiodos de silicio independientes que pueden enfrentar las cuatro direcciones cardinales (N-E-S-W), hacia arriba (horizontal global) y hacia abajo (reflejada del suelo). Las posibles aplicaciones fotovoltaicas (PV) para este sensor incluyen la construcción de sistemas fotovoltaicos integrados en edificios (BIPV) donde los paneles PV a menudo se montan verticalmente y en superficies no orientadas al sur y fotovoltaica bifacial (FV BF) donde la radiación reflejada del suelo (albedo) es de gran interés. La mayoría de las estaciones meteorológicas y las bases de datos solo proporcionan datos de irradiación horizontal global (GHI), por lo que el objetivo de este proyecto es demostrar los beneficios de los datos adicionales de un MDPD. Este proyecto es una colaboración entre DTU Fotonik y EKO Instruments B.V. para validar el sensor MDPD. El estudiante puede esperar trabajar en estrecha colaboración con estos dos socios. El sensor MDPD se instalará próximo a los sensores de radiación solar de Clase A de DTU Fotonik, que se utilizarán para la validación del MDPD. Durante el proyecto, el alumno se familiarizará con las diferencias inherentes entre los sensores de Clase A y MDPD, varios modelos de transposición y modelos de rendimiento BIPV. Objetivos: - Identificar el modelo de transposición óptimo (por ejemplo, Pérez, Reindl, Hay & Davies, etc.) para estimar la irradiación en fachadas BIPV utilizando solo irradiación global en el plano horizontal. - Utilizar los datos del MDPD para estimar la producción solar en un sistema BIPV en Dinamarca. - Estimar el error sistemático al que se arriesgan los desarrolladores de proyectos BIPV si no utilizan el modelo de transposición apropiado, o si no usan el MDPD para su evaluación de los recursos solares.

Façade building-integrated photovoltaics is a technology that transforms a passive façade into a distributed, renewable electrical generator by the inclusion of solar cells in the building envelope. Partial shading due to nearby objects is a typical problem for façade building-integrated photovoltaics as it strongly reduces the output power of the installation. Distributed maximum power point tracking by means of embedded converters and a common direct current bus has been proposed to alleviate this issue. However, the bus voltage plays an important role in converter topology selection and overall efficiency, although this is not being covered in literature. Also the influence of the solar cell technology on the output voltage of the module is not studied before, although it strongly influences the converter topology selection and the losses. In this paper, a methodology is described to investigate the influence of the voltage level and solar cell technology by taking conversion losses in the converters and the cabling into account. The methodology is applied to two case study buildings for which four different cell technologies are considered. It is shown that overall high efficiencies are obtained, regardless of the voltage level. However, the loss distribution changes significantly with the voltage. This aspect can be used advantageously to reduce thermal stresses on the embedded converter. Furthermore, the overall system efficiency is typically higher when the voltage step-up is lower., Photovoltaic Materials and Devices

Reduction of energy consumption and to increase its generation is necessary, as the population lives in urban settlements consume three-quarters of global resources, and these numbers are continually growing. Building-integrated photovoltaic panels (BIPV) which would assist for the resolution of the problem can be applied by replacing the façade cladding with BIPV panels whenever possible. The optimum orientation of PV panels for the Netherlands is south with an angle of 37°, which maximises total electricity production. While the process is simple for new buildings and systems installed in areas with no orientation restrictions or horizon obstructions, the scenario becomes more challenging in urban settlements. As the premises cannot be reoriented in an urban context, solutions may be finding the best places to install BIPV panels on the façade and tilting them. This process can be deployed simultaneously with the building refurbishment that is needed to reach the current envelope insulation standards. Tilting can increase the energy yield, but this would increase the production costs and thus, initial investment costs. The balance between energy yield and added production costs can be found by locating the right panel in the right place on a limited budget. In this study, an early-stage computational design method to optimally allocate and reorient BIPV façade modules to reach a cost-effective and applicable solution is presented. The method was tested in a case setting of a concrete façade retrofit.

The incorporation of a phase change material (PCM) in building integrated photovoltaic (BiPV) façade can be applied to improve its thermal performance including more effective electrical conversion, however their real interaction needs to be investigated at adequate level. The aim of the presented paper is focused on the application of a material with high latent heat capacity based on PCM in the structure of double-skin BiPV façade. The key aspect concerns on an analysis of natural air flow movement affected by the storing/releasing heat energy from the PCM during daytime/night-time of days. The experimental campaign was performed using an experimental outdoor test cell where two full-scale façade samples (reference BiPV and experimental BiPV/PCM) were investigated. The strong effect of thermal inertia of the PCM identified by experimental measurements was observed on the façade air cavity temperature and air flow movement. Experimental results revealed that natural air flow regimes in façade cavities are nearly equal in the daytime, but in the night-time are totally different. The thermal emission from PCM increase the air temperature in the façade cavity and increase the velocity of air flow movement (PCM started solidified), mainly in the night-time.

The incorporation of a phase change material (PCM) in building integrated photovoltaic (BiPV) façade can be applied to improve its thermal performance including more effective electrical conversion, however their real interaction needs to be investigated at adequate level. The aim of the presented paper is focused on the application of a material with high latent heat capacity based on PCM in the structure of double-skin BiPV façade. The key aspect concerns on an analysis of natural air flow movement affected by the storing/releasing heat energy from the PCM during daytime/night-time of days. The experimental campaign was performed using an experimental outdoor test cell where two full-scale façade samples (reference BiPV and experimental BiPV/PCM) were investigated. The strong effect of thermal inertia of the PCM identified by experimental measurements was observed on the façade air cavity temperature and air flow movement. Experimental results revealed that natural air flow regimes in façade cavities are nearly equal in the daytime, but in the night-time are totally different. The thermal emission from PCM increase the air temperature in the façade cavity and increase the velocity of air flow movement (PCM started solidified), mainly in the night-time.

The incorporation of a phase change material (PCM) in building integrated photovoltaic (BiPV) façade can be applied to improve its thermal performance including more effective electrical conversion, however their real interaction needs to be investigated at adequate level. The aim of the presented paper is focused on the application of a material with high latent heat capacity based on PCM in the structure of double-skin BiPV façade. The key aspect concerns on an analysis of natural air flow movement affected by the storing/releasing heat energy from the PCM during daytime/night-time of days. The experimental campaign was performed using an experimental outdoor test cell where two full-scale façade samples (reference BiPV and experimental BiPV/PCM) were investigated. The strong effect of thermal inertia of the PCM identified by experimental measurements was observed on the façade air cavity temperature and air flow movement. Experimental results revealed that natural air flow regimes in façade cavities are nearly equal in the daytime, but in the night-time are totally different. The thermal emission from PCM increase the air temperature in the façade cavity and increase the velocity of air flow movement (PCM started solidified), mainly in the night-time.

Over recent years, continuous price decreases of PV system components and technological improvements, leading to better efficiency and reliability, contributed to reinforce the attractiveness of this technology. This is a trend that also benefitted building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems, which have become more affordable. In addition, it appears that the sector is dynamic and able to gain traction, as the significant number of competitors on the market tends to demonstrate. Nevertheless, in spite of this multiplicity of existing integrated PV products and the apparent market opportunities, deployment of BIPV solutions remains limited. Among the explanatory factors for this observation, one can cite the lack of appropriate business models or, at least, the lack of business models with a clear value proposition for BIPV systems. Possible drivers for BIPV system installation are crucial in order to define a value proposition that is as efficient as possible, as well as a business model. To refine the understanding of these drivers, the first chapter of this report explores these aspects in depth in section 2. The value of BIPV is not purely the economic value from electricity generation; it can also be connected to contributing to the local transition of the energy system, locally produced electricity, sustainability and marketing. The value of BIPV can be leveraged by companies willing to highlight a vision or mission that reaches beyond profit-oriented goals. Also, as a building component, BIPV can provide the same or better building functionalities as other building materials and help at the same time to meet legal requirements in terms of energy performance of buildings. Finally, the ability of BIPV solutions to improve real estate value is evoked as well, increasing the attractiveness of such investments, provided that the involved stakeholders can take advantage of this value. Different stakeholders involved in the business models are highlighted. They c, IEA PVPS Task 15 Enabling Framework for the Development of BIPV

This review study, framed in the Work group 4 “Photovoltaic in built environment” within the COST Action PEARL PV, CA16235, aims to examine applications of integrated and applied photovoltaic technologies on ten landmark buildings characterised by distinctive geometries, highlighting the aesthetics of their architecture and quality of PV integration based on a proposed set of seven criteria. The selected building samples cover a large design diversity related to the quality of PV systems integration into building envelope that could serve as a basis for general guidelines of best architectural and technological practice. After introducing the problem and defining the research methodology, an analysis of ten landmark buildings is presented, as representative models of aesthetics of their architecture, photovoltaic integration and implementation and energy performance. The study concludes with the main characteristics of photovoltaic integration on landmark buildings. The paper is intended to support both engineers and architects in comprehending the convergent development of contemporary architecture and photovoltaic technology, as well as the need for a closer collaboration, sometimes resulting in architectural masterworks that promote the diffusion of photovoltaics to the public.

It is generally expected that in the future, photovoltaics will be able to contribute substantially to the mainstream power production, and that through their widespread commercialization, Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) systems will become the backbone of the zero-energy building (ZEB) European target for 2020. An outlook on the BIPV market estimated the worldwide installed BIPV capacity during 2016 to nearly 2 GW, confirming the growing trend, increasing by 12.6% compared to 2015, when 1.78 GW were installed [1]. This paper presents the results of the Dem4BIPV project (http://www.dem4bipv.eu/), which has been designed to develop innovative master-level courseware for various European academic institutes focusing on Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) in order to bridge the existing knowledge gaps in education of the target audiences (students and professionals in the building sector) as well as to create awareness on the subject. A project survey among BIPV stakeholders showed that lack of education is one of the barriers to BIPV deployment helping at the same time to identify teaching goals and subsequently courses addressing the needs of each target audience related to BIPV. Finally, a full 40 ECTS curriculum on BIPV was developed and is briefly presented in this paper.

Photovoltaic electricity generation is growing at an almost exponential rate worldwide, reaching 400 GW(p) of installed capacity in 2018. Different types of installations, ranging from small building integrated systems to large plants, require different maintenance strategies, including strategies for monitorization and data processing. In this article, we present three case studies at different scales (from hundreds of W-p to a 2.1 MWp plant), where automated parameter monitorization and data analysis has been carried out, aiming to detect failures and provide recommendations for optimum maintenance procedures. For larger systems, the data collected by the inverters provides the best source of information, and the cross-correlated analysis which uses these data is the best strategy to detect failures in module strings and failures in the inverters themselves (an average of 32.2% of inverters with failures was found after ten years of operation). In regards to determining which module is failing, the analysis of thermographic images is reliable and allows the detection of the failed module within the string (up to 1.5% for grave failures and 9.1% of medium failures for the solar plant after eleven years of activity). Photovoltaic (PV) systems at different scales require different methods for monitorization: Medium and large systems depend on inverter automated data acquisition, which can be complemented with thermographic images. Nevertheless, if the purpose of the monitorization is to obtain detailed information about the degradation processes of the solar cells, it becomes necessary to measure the environmental (irradiance and ambient temperature), thermal and electrical parameters (I-V characterization) of the modules and compare the experimental data with the modelling results. This is only achievable in small systems.

[EN] The ceramic tile industry has become a very competitive market. Europe, which in the past was the leader in ceramic tile production, is now challenged by the expansion of other ceramic industries all over the world, such as China, India, Brazil, Turkey and Vietnam. This rivalry between countries all around the world, has been stimulating the development of new technological advancements in such industry over the last twenty years. One of the latest and most important technological advancements has been the introduction of digital inkjet printers into the production chains of ceramic tile industries, which has been revolutionising the ceramic decoration sector ever since its introduction during the beginning of the 20th century, with Spain and Italy as pioneers. Moreover, inkjet printers have also proved their suitability and efficiency for production of printed electronics and printing of functional materials. This kind of technological developments and the integration of functionalities onto ceramics is becoming key for tile producers as will be shown later. Thus, the aim of this project is to incorporate and embed conductive patterns in porcelain stoneware tiles by using a drop-on-demand inkjet printer, in order to design solutions to facilitate the integration of photovoltaic, energy storage and energy efficiency technologies in ceramic tiles. In order to control and analyse spreading and penetration of the ink on the substrate, the optimal inks for the purpose will be selected in order to achieve optimal results and initiate the industrial validation process later. This is a first step that when achieved will foster different new applications and possibilities for the development of ceramic tiles with technological added value in the ceramic tile industry in Valencia (Spain).

Utvecklingen inom solenergi i Sverige har gått snabbt de senaste åren, men hittills harde flesta företag och privatpersoner satsat på att installera solceller på tak. En annanresurs som i dagsläget är relativt outnyttjad, men där vi ser både en möjlighet för ochen ökande trend av olika sollösningar, är fasader. I miljöer där man pga platsbrist intekan bygga nytt, kan ändå fasadytor på byggnader utnyttjas för en rad saker, bl a till attgenerera förnybar solel och/eller ge plats för skuggande solavskärmningar ochdärmed minskat kylbehov. I projektet SOL:AR har vi tittat på hur ett framtida digitaltvisualiseringsverktyg skulle kunna underlätta för beställare som funderar påsollösningar till fasad, där vi inkluderar såväl traditionella solceller sombyggnadsintegrerad solel (BIPV) och solavskärmningar. Skulle ett digitalt verktygkunna ge en snabb uppfattning om t ex lönsamhet på solceller eller solavskärmningarpå fasad, och hur dessa skulle se ut på en fastighet? Skulle detta vara till hjälp förbeställare som är nyfikna på och funderar på sollösningar? Ett långsiktigt syfte medprojektet är att stötta utvecklingen av fasader som resurs så att nya möjligheter för bl asolcellsinstallationer kan tas tillvara.Genom att intervjua tilltänkta målgrupper som fastighetsägare och andranyckelaktörer om deras behov och önskemål kring ett digitalt verktyg, kartlägga vilkatekniska möjligheter samt juridiska och organisatoriska frågeställningar som finns, såhar vi utforskat förutsättningarna för ett sådant verktyg. Vi har identifieratfastighetsägare som den primära målgruppen för verktyget och då framföralltmellanstora fastighetsägare med främst kommersiella fastigheter, men konstaterar attdet även hos bostadsrättsföreningar och i flerbostadshus finns ett växande intresse försollösningar. Sammanlagt har minst 30 personer från fastighetsbolag,branschorganisationer, solenergileverantörer, myndigheter ochsamhällsbyggnadskontor deltagit i våra intervjuer/workshopsaktiviteter och bidragitmed, The solar energy business has developed rapidly in Sweden in recent years, but so farmost companies and individuals have chosen to install solar cells on roofs. Anotherrelatively unexplored resource that we argue offer potential and where we see anemerging trend for various solar solutions, is building facades. In contexts where lackof space prevents building new or standalone solar energy installments, facades canstill be used for a range of purposes, e.g., generating renewable solar power and/orprovide space for shading devices and thereby reduced demand for cooling. In theSOL:AR project we have investigated how a future digital visualization tool could makeit easier for clients who are considering solar solutions, including categories ofproducts like solar cells, building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) and solar shading.How could a digital tool give a quick insight into e.g., the profitability of solar cells or asolar shading solution on a certain façade, and how would these look aesthetically? Along term aim in the project is to stimulate the development of facades as a resourcethat opens for new opportunities for solar solutions.Through interviewing potential target groups like property owners and other keyactors about their needs and requests regarding a digital tool, mapping out technicalpossibilities as well as legal and organizational aspects, we have investigated theprerequisites for such a tool. We have identified property owners as our primary targetgroup, and in particular medium-sized property owners with commercial buildings,although there seems to be an increasing interest in solar solutions also in tenantowners’ associations and apartment buildings. In total, at least 30 people fromproperty companies, trade organizations, solar energy companies, governmentalagencies, and urban planning offices have participated in our interviews andworkshops respectively and contributed their thoughts and needs about how a digitalvisualization tool could create val

Global energy demand is on the rise. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), in 2018, the building sector alone constituted 28 % of all energy-related CO2 emissions. In an effort to reduce the carbon footprint of the building sector, the European Union has decreed that every new building from 2021 must be a nearly zero energy building where the low energy for such buildings must come from renewable sources. While this policy works well for new buildings, there needs to be also a solution developed for existing buildings or monumental buildings to be able to easily harness renewable energy, without the need for any major and costly renovation. The concept of a flexible cloth-based solar curtain as a plug and play solution for existing buildings has been explored in the current research, with particular focus on a bifacial (two-sided) design, to assess the significance of the indoor reflected daylight and artificial lights on the rear side power output of such a semi-transparent solar curtain. An optical model representing a basic semi-transparent curtain comprising 70 % cloth of roughly 62 % transparency (based on availability), and 30 % of bifacial solar photovoltaic (PV) minimodules, is prepared as a base case. To validate the optical model, it is replicated on a smaller scale and tested using an identical experimental setup in a controlled environment using a solar simulator. Four cases are prepared for this: the curtain in an empty white-walled room, the curtain in the same room but with some furniture, the curtain in a shorter room with a white rear wall and the curtain in a shorter room with a black rear wall. An analysis of simulation and experimental results shows near likeness between the two with an error margin of 3.3 % for the base case to 10.6 % for the black rear wall case. Slight non uniformity of optical property inputs used in the simulation model and an overestimation of experimentally measured power due to a relatively lower irradiance

Sweden has a climate target to get a total renewable electricity production by 2040, in order to succeed with the goal, the proportion of solar energy needs to increase. Increased environmental awareness and increased profitability of solar cells have led to an increase. A new way of attaching solar cells to buildings is by integrating them into building materials. A solution that optimizes material, makes the installation easier and creates better design. Today, there is concern that the temperature of the solar cells may become very high as their cooling decreases. The consequences of an increased temperature in the solar cells is that the efficiency of the electricity production decreases. The purpose of this study is therefore to increase understanding of the influence of modular temperature on electricity production. The aim of the study was to find out how much electricity production [kWh/m2, year] varies in solar cells depending on whether they are applied to buildings or if they are integrated into building materials for solar cells placed in Nordic climate. In order to do this, a calculation model was built in Simulink Matlab to calculate how the modular temperature varied during the varying weather conditions that occur during a year in Gothenburg. Air flow in the gap is created by self-convection. Some periods blew the wind into the gap in the ceiling and then the wind was also assumed to contribute with an air flow. In order to describe the self-conception, a theoretical relationship was established, to describe how the wind influenced the airflow of the roof, a connection from an experimental study was used. With the help of the calculated calculation model, it was possible to determine how much electricity production varied during integrated or applied assembly in Gothenburg. The result found was an increase of 4% for ceiling-mounted and 2% respectively for wall-mounted solar cells with applied mounting compared to integrated installation. The model wa