Climate-responsive integrability of building-integrated photovoltaics

Gayathri Aaditya and Monto Mani

International Journal of Low-Carbon Technologies, 2012, vol. 8, issue 4, 271-281

Abstract: Adoption of clean energy technologies is fundamental to equitably support and sustain a burgeoning population, particularly in progressive nations such as India. While solar represents the most ubiquitous energy source, its appropriate harnessing mechanism requires a careful approach and design. Amid the various direct and indirect electricity generation techniques available, building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) carries immense potential to harness solar energy integrated as a component of the building envelope. It is an onsite-distributed power source, offering advantages of size and scale variability, modularity and building integrability. To be energy efficient as a building envelope, BIPV would need to passively regulate the responsiveness of the building envelope to the external environment to accomplish the prime function of a building, i.e. to provide (natural) indoor thermal-comfort for conducive and productive living. However, the requirements for climate-responsive building design may infringe upon those required for optimal PV performance. Besides technological considerations attributed to varying PV (material-dependent) performance efficiencies and high initial investment, a pragmatic approach should also integrate social, environmental and economic factors for successful adoption of a BIPV. It would, thus, require addressing the design requirements for energy-efficient building performance, effective PV integration and societal feasibility. This article attempts to provide an integrability framework encompassing the climate responsiveness factors influencing BIPV performance, which can support further research in this arena. Copyright , Oxford University Press.

Date: 2012
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