Building integrated PhotoVoltaics (BiPV)

Lecture 1: Introduction to BiPV

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 Building
integrated
photovoltaics
 Course material developed in collaboration with
Utrecht University, Fachhochschule Technikum Wien,
University of Cyprus, Deloitte, WIP

with support from Erasmus+

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Content BiPV-material
▪ 2 weeks

▪ 4 lectures
□ Introduction & PV-principles
□ Influence on electricity performance
□ BiPV vs. conventional constructions & LCA
□ Market development & Aesthetics

▪ 4 corresponding tutorials

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Content of the lecture

1. Introduction
a. What is BiPV
b. Examples
c. Advantages and barriers
2. Photovoltaic solar energy
a. Solar Energy
b. Photovoltaic effect
c. Solar cells
d. PV systems

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What is BiPV?
PV-system integrated in the
building envelope.

The system converts solar energy

into electricity and it takes over
(part of) the functions of the initial
construction material.

This can be either on the roof or

as facades.

SolarBuildingTech, n.d.; Schüco, 2014 6

Relevance
Climate change:

NOAA, 2018

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Relevance
Photovoltaic electricity generation:

Source: IEA PVPS, 2016

IEA PVPS, 2016
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Relevance
BIPV:

Logistic reasons:
▪ Lack of available area (densely populated areas)
▪ No/less dependence on the electricity grid

Regulatory reasons:
▪ European Commission: nZEB – directives
• All new buildings must be near Zero-Energy Buildings by 31 dec. 2020
▪ Dutch government: Energielabel
• All Dutch offices will have at least an ‘energielabel C’ (scale A-G) in 2023
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 Tripathy et al., 2016

These new regulations caused more optimistic forecasts for

BIPV-generation.
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BiPV vs. BaPV
Building integrated PV vs. Building applied PV

BiPV replaces the initial construction material and thereby

BiPV takes over its functions, BaPV is installed on top of the
initial material and its function are thus limited to solar energy
production only.

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Functions of BiPV

University of Cyprus

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Shading & Light Aesthetics

PV-sunscreen (BISEM, 2012)

DSD PV: PV modules partly covered with a full color

print (ECN).

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Content of the lecture

1. Introduction
a. What is BiPV
b. Examples
c. Advantages and barriers
2. Photovoltaic solar energy
a. Solar Energy
b. Photovoltaic effect
c. Solar cells
d. PV systems

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Examples
Full Roof Solution

Zanetti et al., 2017

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Examples
PV roof tiles

Zanetti et al., 2017

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Examples
Curtain Wall (warm facade)

Onyx, 2017

University of Cyprus
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Examples
Curtain Wall (warm facade)

● PV modules can be integrated

into unitised curtain wall systems
either in the vision area or in the
spandrel area of the facade.

● Single or double-glazed units can

be replaced by clear or opaque,
single- or double-glazed PV
modules. Installation for PV is
comparable as for ordinary glass.
University of Cyprus

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Examples
Curtain Wall (cold facade)

University of Cyprus
Cameron, 2007
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 Examples
Curtain Wall (cold facade)
• Rainscreen over-cladding systems offer
a very good opportunity for the
integration of PV modules.
• In the case of existing cladding
technology, no major modification would
be needed to incorporate solar modules.
• Furthermore the ventilated cavity
contained within the system would help to
keep the operating temperatures of the
PV cells down to some degree
University of Cyprus

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Examples
Curtain Wall (cold facade)
● The inner structural leaf or backing wall can
be built of any material, for example concrete
or brickwork.
● A layer of insulation is provided on the
outside of the backing wall, finished off with a
vapour barrier on the warm side (on the inside
in a typical) and possibly a breather-type
waterproofing membrane on the cold side of
the insulation (on the outside).
● Vertical cladding rails or fixing brackets are
bolted onto the backing wall ready to receive
the outer rainscreen panels.

University of Cyprus

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Examples
Skylight/Canopy

University of Cyprus
Onyx, 2017

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Examples
Skylight/Canopy
• Construction of glazed skylights can
be based on stick curtain wall
system and unitised curtain wall
system.
• The double-glazed units can be
replaced by clear or opaque PV
modules, preferably double-glazed.
An additional outer lite can be
installed for solar control, high
performance coatings and low
emissivity
• The mullions acting as rafters and
the transoms acting as counter
battens transfer the vertical loads University of Cyprus
(dead load, wind, snow, maintenance)
to the main structure.
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Content of the lecture

1. Introduction
a. What is BiPV
b. Examples
c. Advantages and barriers
2. Photovoltaic solar energy
a. Solar Energy
b. Photovoltaic effect
c. Solar cells
d. PV systems

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2 questions:

What are potential advantages of BiPV?

What could be the disadvantages/barriers for BiPV?

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Advantages:
▪ Lower costs
▪ No rural/unoccupied area required
▪ Electrically self-sufficient
▪ Lower electricity losses
▪ Increased aesthetics
▪ Decreased heat-transmittance Improved internal
▪ Decreased harmful irradiance environment
▪ Internal shading
▪ Creating awareness for BiPV
▪ Interesting marketing-strategy

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Disadvantages/Barriers
▪ Lower electricity performance
□ Cell-efficiency fetish
▪ (Partial)-shading
▪ BiPV is experienced as ‘too difficult’
□ Shortage of specialists
▪ Critics on aesthetics

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Introduction to Photovoltaic Solar Energy

From To

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Content of the lecture

1. Introduction
a. What is BiPV
b. Examples
c. Advantages and barriers
2. Photovoltaic solar energy
a. Solar Energy
b. Photovoltaic effect
c. Solar cells
d. PV systems

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Solar Energy- Seasonal differences

USRA, 2018

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Solar Energy - Effect of Atmosphere

▪ Solar energy
passes through a
certain amount of
Air Mass before it
reaches the
earth’s surface

Source: Steve Ackerman and John Knox. US Department of Energy (ARM)

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Solar Energy - Effect of Atmosphere

▪ Straight to the
equator = AM 1

▪ Europe in summer
≈ AM 1.5 =
Standard Test
Condition (STC)

Jeong, 2014
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Spectrum of solar irradiation

Wikimedia, n.d.

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Available for cSi PV

Wu et al., 2011
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Content of the lecture

1. Introduction
a. What is BiPV
b. Examples
c. Advantages and barriers
2. Photovoltaic solar energy
a. Solar Energy
b. Photovoltaic effect
c. Solar cells
d. PV systems

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Photovoltaic effect basics

Watch the following video’s to understand semiconductors

and the photovoltaic effect.

The Green Translation Service, 2011 Adams, 2014

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Photovoltaic effect basics

▪ Material used is a semiconductor (commonly Silicon)

▪ Using light, electrons are released from their atoms and
become mobile carriers (electron - hole pairs)
▪ Electrons have to cross an energy gap (band-gap, material
specific)
▪ By making additions to the pure semiconductor, an
electronic structure is created that separates and directs
mobile carriers
▪ Electron - hole pairs recombine after flowing through an
external circuit

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Basic process of photovoltaic conversion

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Utrecht University
Losses in photovoltaic conversion
Energy

Utrecht University
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Content of the lecture

1. Introduction
a. What is BiPV
b. Examples
c. Advantages and barriers
2. Photovoltaic solar energy
a. Solar Energy
b. Photovoltaic effect
c. Solar cells
d. PV systems

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Solar cell operation

▪ Under illumination solar cells generate electrical current

▪ Cells have a built-in voltage due to the electronic structure
(p-type and n-type)
▪ Current is mostly linear with light intensity
▪ Voltage is logarithmic and affected by temperature

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Solar cell operation

Operation described by:

Voc

Utrecht University

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IV-curve of typical Si cell
▪ Pmax = Imax * Vmax

▪ Varies with cell Jsc = JL

temperature, irradiance Imax
etc.

▪ MPPT to operate the

cell at maximum
efficiency
Vmax VOC

Utrecht University

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From Cell to Panel (or module)

A typical cSi solar cell has an output voltage of around 0.5 V at

its maximum power point.

How do we get from here to a solar panel?

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Typical solar panel

JA Solar JAP6-60 270

▪ 60 Cells (6 x 10)
▪ Rated maximum power @STC: 270 W
▪ Max Power Voltage (Vmp): 31.21 V
▪ Max Power Current (Imp): 8.65 A
▪ Open Circuit Voltage (Voc): 38.30V
▪ Short Circuit Current (Isc): 9.16 A
STC
Irradiance of 1000 W/m2
Cell temperature of 25 C
Air Mass 1.5
Source: JAsolar, 2016
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IV-characteristics of solar panel

JASolar, 2016

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Content of the lecture

1. Introduction
a. What is BiPV
b. Examples
c. Advantages and barriers
2. Photovoltaic solar energy
a. Solar Energy
b. Photovoltaic effect
c. Solar cells
d. PV systems

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Grid connected PV System

Alternative Energy Tutorials, 2013 48

Grid Connected PV System with battery storage

Alternative Energy Tutorials, 2013 49

Modelling software

▪ For a quick performance check of a PV system

□ PVGIS (online tool)

▪ For more elaborate simulations several software packages

available.
□ PVSites for our assignment

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PVGIS

▪ Photovoltaic
Geographical
Information
System

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http://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvg_tools/en/tools.html#PVP
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Assignment

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Assignment

The ‘Willem C. Unnik-building’ - Utrecht University

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Assignment

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Thank you for Your Attention
www.dem4bipv.eu

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