Review on Building-Integrated Photovoltaics Electrical System Requirements and Module-Integrated Converter Recommendations

Simon Ravyts, Mauricio Dalla Vecchia, Giel Van den Broeck and Johan Driesen
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Simon Ravyts: Department of Electrical Engineering, ESAT, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 10, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
Mauricio Dalla Vecchia: Department of Electrical Engineering, ESAT, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 10, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
Giel Van den Broeck: Department of Electrical Engineering, ESAT, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 10, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
Johan Driesen: Department of Electrical Engineering, ESAT, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 10, 3001 Leuven, Belgium

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 8, 1-21

Abstract: Since building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) modules are typically installed during, not after, the construction phase, BIPVs have a profound impact compared to conventional building-applied photovoltaics on the electrical installation and construction planning of a building. As the cost of BIPV modules decreases over time, the impact of electrical system architecture and converters will become more prevalent in the overall cost of the system. This manuscript provides an overview of potential BIPV electrical architectures. System-level criteria for BIPV installations are established, thus providing a reference framework to compare electrical architectures. To achieve modularity and to minimize engineering costs, module-level DC/DC converters preinstalled in the BIPV module turned out to be the best solution. The second part of this paper establishes converter-level requirements, derived and related to the BIPV system. These include measures to increase the converter fault tolerance for extended availability and to ensure essential safety features.

Keywords: PV; BIPV; LVDC; DC/DC module-level converters (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: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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