Balcony Photovoltaics in Large-Panel Prefabricated Buildings as a Contribution to the Urban Energy Transition

Jakub Polański, Magdalena Nemś (), Marcin Michalski and Constantinos Vassiliades
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Jakub Polański: Department of Thermodynamics and Renewable Energy Sources, Faculty of Mechanical and Power Engineering, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzerze Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
Magdalena Nemś: Department of Thermodynamics and Renewable Energy Sources, Faculty of Mechanical and Power Engineering, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzerze Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
Marcin Michalski: Department of Thermodynamics and Renewable Energy Sources, Faculty of Mechanical and Power Engineering, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzerze Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
Constantinos Vassiliades: Department of Architecture, Land and Environmental Sciences, Neapolis University Pafos, 8042 Pafos, Cyprus

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 21, 1-23

Abstract: Europe, including Poland, is undergoing an energy transition. The use of renewable energy sources (RES) in the national energy sector is increasing significantly, and previously unused areas are increasingly developed for photovoltaic power plants. A specific type of housing common in Eastern European countries opens an additional opportunity for photovoltaic installations without occupying usable ground area. This article aims to analyze the potential for utilizing balconies and loggias in large-panel buildings, which are characteristic of major cities in Poland. Approximately 30% of the population resides in such housing. This presents significant potential for direct use of renewable energy by apartment residents. The article also explores the legal framework for such installations, both as individual investments by apartment owners and as collective initiatives managed by building administrators. The authors analyzed the potential performance of photovoltaic installations under varying azimuths and tilt angles, considering solar irradiation potential. The analyses also encompassed different photovoltaic module technologies, covering a spectrum of photovoltaic technologies, from commonly used monocrystalline panels to advanced transparent BIPV (Building-Integrated Photovoltaics) solutions. Furthermore, the study quantified the energy potential of such installations and compared the results with existing photovoltaic capacities and electricity demand in Poland.

Keywords: BIPV; smart city; multi-family housing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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