|
PROBLEM STATEMENT
The vast majority of photovoltaics sold to date have been
used for navigational signals, call boxes, telecommunication
centers, consumer products, off-grid electrification projects,
and small grid-interactive rooftop installations. As previously
noted, a barrier to the widespread adaptation of building
integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) is the lack of experimental
data and computer simulation tools to determine the performance
that building integrated photovoltaics offer.
Element 5 had one project on building integrated photovoltaics. Its focus
was to develop a validated design algorithm to predict the energy production
of building-integrated photovoltaic modules and to assess the energy savings
potential from using BIPV in California.
Back to top
5-1. BUILDING INTEGRATED PHOTOVOLTAICS
The project was conducted by NIST using laboratory and field tests at its
headquarters in Gaithersburg, MD, to develop a validated design algorithm
to predict the energy production of building-integrated photovoltaic panels.
- Performance and environmental data were collected for one year on four
different BIPV technologies (single-crystalline, poly-crystalline, silicon
film, and triple junction amorphous silicon panels), mounted in insulated
and un-insulated configurations.
- The results of validated models were used to predict the energy savings
possible by using curtain-wall photovoltaic products that are integrated
for buildings in high growth areas of California.
- Insulation behind PV panels degrades power production slightly in three
out of the four cell technologies tested. The fourth technology showed
a very slight improvement in power output due to the insulation.
- The simulations demonstrated that shading will result in a significant
reduction in power production from curtain wall BIPV products. In addition,
the vertical orientation will adversely affect power production compared
to roof-mounted PV systems, particularly during the summer.
Research Team: Hunter Fanney, Brian Dougherty, Mark Davis, Eric R. Weise, and Kenneth
R. Henderson with NIST conducted this research project. Fred Porter and
Vernon Smith with Architectural Energy Corporation provided simulation
support for the economic assessment study.
Back to top
|
