Application of Solar Cells in Contemporary Architecture

A sustainable technology that provides the opportunity for generating electricity and replacing conventional construction materials is building integrated photovoltaic (BIPVs). Building construction and usage consume one third of the primary electricity in India. BIPV systems generate electricity by converting solar energy into useable power to supply building electrical loads. As a leading renewable technology, it is poised for widespread use by design teams in the non-residential construction industry across India. With an abundance of accessible solar energy, India is a prime location for photovoltaic technology and BIPV applications. However, photovoltaic technology has the potential to take a much larger role in supplementing or replacing nonrenewable generation sources for electricity in the future. Building construction and usage consume one third of the primary electricity in India. This paper describes about BIPV's multiple functions that improvise the building performance and reduce the energy consumption of building, development of BIPV systems and design strategies of it. Also, this paper depicts the BIPV current market trend and its futuristic forecast in coming years.

2021

From the older concept of photovoltaic installation, which includes the addition of solar panels to a building’s roof, the construction technology has merged with the photovoltaics technology. The result is Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV), in which integrating the architectural, structural and aesthetic component of photovoltaics into buildings. Building integration of photovoltaics (BIPVs) has been recognized worldwide as a pivotal technology enabling the exploitation of innovative renewable energy sources in buildings, acting as electric power generators within the new framework of smart cities. The standard semitransparent photovoltaic (PV) modules can largely replace architectural glass installed in the building envelopes such as roofs, skylights, and facade of a building. Their main features are power generation and transparency, as well as possessing a heat insulating effect. PV glass shows the same mechanical properties as a conventional, architectural glass used in ...

Journal, 2024

The integration of solar cells into building materials, known as Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV), represents a transformative approach to sustainable construction. By converting building surfaces-such as rooftops, facades, and windows-into energy-generating elements, BIPV systems aim to create selfsustaining structures that minimize reliance on traditional power grids. This paper explores the key components, types, and materials used in BIPV systems, including crystalline silicon, thin-film, and emerging organic photovoltaic technologies. BIPV is shown to offer both environmental and economic advantages, such as reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and long-term energy cost savings. However, the deployment of BIPV faces challenges, including high initial costs, technological limitations, and regulatory constraints, which must be addressed to maximize its potential impact. To illustrate BIPV's capabilities and limitations, case studies of successful applications across different geographic and climatic conditions are examined. These cases demonstrate the effectiveness of BIPV in generating clean energy and reducing energy expenses, highlighting the technology's viability in diverse settings. Additionally, the paper discusses ongoing advancements, such as transparent solar cells and flexible applications, that could further enhance the efficiency and accessibility of BIPV. The findings underscore the importance of policy support, technological innovation, and increased awareness in promoting BIPV as a standard practice in modern architecture. Ultimately, BIPV has the potential to reshape urban environments, making buildings not only energy-efficient but also key contributors to a sustainable energy future.

Haghighi, Z., 2022

Under the following terms: Attribution-You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. Unless otherwise specified, all the photographs in this thesis were taken by the author. For the use of illustrations effort has been made to ask permission for the legal owners as far as possible. We apologize for those cases in which we did not succeed. These legal owners are kindly requested to contact the author. TOC Architectural Photovoltaic Application Dissertation for the purpose of obtaining the degree of doctor at Delft University of Technology by the authority of the Rector Magnificus, prof.dr.ir. T.H.J.J. van der Hagen chair of the Board for Doctorates to be defended publicly on Monday 7th November 2022 at 17:30 Contents 4.3.2 Understanding of Integration 117 4.3.3 Decision-Making Factors 120 4.4 Conclusions 121 5 Architectural Photovoltaic Application List of Figures 1.1 Solar One House in Newark, Delaware, completed in March 1973 and built by the team of Karl W. Böer. Photo credit: University of Delaware (Böer, 1974) 33 1.2 Research Scheme 40 2.1 Steps with research of the term 'integration' and its evolution in the context of PV and buildings 49 2.2 Architectural integration of BIPV adopted from Hagemann 2004 57 3.1 Visibility of PV in overall building design 80 3.2 Mounting strategies for exposed PV 81 3.3 Mounting strategies for hidden PV 81 3.4 PV product typologies 83 3.5 Building Fabrics Used 84 3.6 Additional function of PV product 87 3.7 Examples of mapped decision decisions 89 4.1 Interview process by research design, data collection, and content analysis. 96 4.2 Three parts of the questionnaires. 97 4.3 Decision-making factors 121 5.1 Types of c-Si solar cells. 130 5.2 Front and back contacts of a standard m-Si solar cell. 130 5.3 Front and rear representation of an Interdigitated back-contact cell 130 5.4 Example of a half-cell module consisting of two groups of solar cells connected in parallel 132 5.5 Examples of crystalline silicon cells and modules with mechanical flexibility 133 5.6 Examples of transparent c-Si applications 134 5.7 Mosaic module technology 134 5.8 The Design2PV concept by Fraunhofer adopted from (Kuhn et al. 2020) 135 5.9 Ceramic pigment on c-Si based PV modules. 136 5.10 Optic systems deployed on c-Si solar modules. 136 5.11 a-Si solar cell from WSL solar (WSPSolar, 2020) 138 5.12 Schematic of a CdTe solar cell. (NREL, 2020) 138 5.13 Schematic of a CIGS solar cell. (NREL, 2020) 139 5.14 Flexible CIGS solar panel from Flisom (2020) With an efficiency of 9.59% 140 5.15 Examples of CIGS modules with a custom shape, size, and flexibility (SIARQ, 2020). 141 5.16 Semi-transparent a-Si skylight system from Onyx Solar. (Onyx Solar 2018) 142 5.17 Transparent and coloured PV modules via modification of the Cell thickness (Tsai, 2020). 142 5.18 The infinity PV tape based on OSCs with power production of 1-6 W/m2. Can be attached to a variety of surfaces using an adhesive. 144 List of Figures TOC Architectural Photovoltaic Application From another perspective, we also do not include any information about the economy of this technology and its applications, nor the life cycle costs and environmental impact associated with the production or use of PV technology. This research also tries to stay on the production side of the energy cycle. It means it will not go into the subject of conversion, storage, transmission, nor energy saving potentials and energy efficiency topics in the buildings. Furthermore, this research tries not to limit the scope of results based on particular geographical conditions, instead, having a global perspective on the subject.

Buildings

The application of photovoltaic systems is becoming a dominant feature in contemporary buildings. They allow for the achievement of zero-energy constructions. However, the principles of this strategy are not yet sufficiently known among architects. The purpose of this study is to enhance their expertise, which cannot be widened due to the shortage of targeted publications. The issue presentation was structured in a way that follows the typical design stages, beginning with large-scale urban problems up to the scale of building forms and components. Different types of photovoltaic (PV) systems are considered, based on their efficiency, relations with building fabrics, potential for thermally protecting buildings and their impact on esthetic values. The focus was mainly on the most popular PV modules. The application of these systems requires in-depth analyses which should be carried out by designers at the initial stage and through the next stages of the design. A method to analyze z...

Sustainability, Agri, Food and Environmental Research, 2021

From the older concept of photovoltaic installation, which includes the addition of solar panels to a building’s roof, the construction technology has merged with the photovoltaics technology. The result is Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV), in which integrating the architectural, structural and aesthetic component of photovoltaics into buildings. Building integration of photovoltaics (BIPVs) has been recognized worldwide as a pivotal technology enabling the exploitation of innovative renewable energy sources in buildings, acting as electric power generators within the new framework of smart cities. The standard semitransparent photovoltaic (PV) modules can largely replace architectural glass installed in the building envelopes such as roofs, skylights, and facade of a building. Their main features are power generation and transparency, as well as possessing a heat insulating effect. PV glass shows the same mechanical properties as a conventional, architectural glass used in ...

Renewable Energy in the Service of Mankind Vol II, 2015

When using the integrated approach, solar systems become part of the general building design. In fact, they often become regular building elements. This is due to the fact that integrating solar systems into the building envelope is often a necessity if the systems are to be economically feasible. The solar elements cannot be separate elements that are added after the building, or at least the architectural design of it, is complete. Rather, they must replace other building elements, thereby serving dual functions and reducing total costs. The following case studies depict a coming-of-age of building-integrated photovoltaics (PVs). These PV elements are specially designed for glass shading devices. The PVs will serve as shading elements for areas protected by the new system. The overhanging shading roof provides adequate shade in the summer and allows for useful solar heat gain in the winter. These factors combined should help to keep the building's running costs to a minimum. In conclusion, the simulations and testing at the design stage show that the overall environmental strategy will reduce the building's running costs while optimizing visual and thermal comfort. Integrating PVs into the architectural design offers more than cost benefits; it allows the creation of an environmentally friendly energy-efficient building. The systems consist of crystalline PV modules integrated with a semi-transparent module. We also present an example of PV modules in thin films.

2011 International Conference on Consumer Electronics, Communications and Networks (CECNet), 2011

Built environment is one of the major causes of the negative impact that human activity has on the environment. Building design should adopt such strategies that would help relieve this situation. Architects should therefore be able to grasp and implement all aspects of sustainable design, including cutting edge technologies, in a holistic and integral fashion. Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) represents an important field to explore, since photovoltaic systems have an enormous potential within the context of architectural and urban design. Their implementation though has to be part of the integral design process which is essential for the creation of quality sustainable architecture. Since the world urban population is constantly growing, sustainable approaches to architectural design need to be adopted with urgency in urban environment. Existing urban environment however presents great challenges to the implementation of any new technology. In an urban context we need not only design new buildings, but since the urban tissue is already in place, care must be taken not to damage the historical and architectural values. Furthermore, urban environment has many variations and offers a broad scope of possibilities for various approaches to BIPV. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the possibilities of BIPV in relationship to sustainable architecture and urban environment, focusing on explaining the necessity to provide architects with a methodology of working with advanced photovoltaic systems in architectural design, introducing the departure points for this intention, and demonstrating how such a methodology-a Design Manual-will be created.

Journal of Green Building, 2006

Photovoltaic (solar) cells (Corkish 2004) are semiconductor devices that directly create electric current and voltage from the collection of photons (quanta of light). They convert sunlight to electricity silently and without moving parts, require little maintenance, are reliable, are being sold with warranties of up to twenty-five years, generate no greenhouse gases in operation, and are modular, rapidly deployable and particularly suited to urban rooftops, façades, and similar applications. Hence, they are easily located close to where electricity is consumed. Solar cells of 15% efficiency covering an area equivalent to just 0.25% of the global area under crops and permanent pasture could meet all the world's primary energy requirements today (Archer and Hill 2001), yet most or all of that area could be otherwise alienated land, such as on buildings, for example. “On any given day, the solar energy falling on a typical oilfield in the Middle East is far greater than the energy...