IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v242y2019icp854-872.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Study on the overall energy performance of a novel c-Si based semitransparent solar photovoltaic window

Author

Listed:
  • Peng, Jinqing
  • Curcija, Dragan C.
  • Thanachareonkit, Anothai
  • Lee, Eleanor S.
  • Goudey, Howdy
  • Selkowitz, Stephen E.

Abstract

This paper introduces a novel c-Si based building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) laminate. It was produced by cutting standard crystalline silicon solar cells into narrow strips and then automatically welding and connecting the strips into continuous strings for laminating between two layers of glass. The overall energy performance of the BIPV insulated glass unit (IGU) including power, thermal and daylighting performance was investigated experimentally. The daily energy conversion efficiency of the active solar cell area was about 15% on sunny days, but it was less than 12% on cloudy days and overcast days. Due to the combined effect of both the semi-transparent PV laminate and the insulated glass unit, the solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) of the BIPV IGU was as low as 0.25, which was much lower than commonly used glazing windows. Daylight analysis by means of high dynamic range (HDR) cameras and daylight glare probability (DGP) indicated that the BIPV IGU could reduce discomfort glare to some extent compared to clear glass windows. The net energy production of the BIPV IGU was estimated without considering the differences in HVAC energy use in this study. The artificial lighting energy consumption was about 431 W h/day while the average BIPV electricity production for the same period was 1940 W h/day. The net power generation was therefore 1509 W h/day for this BIPV IGU in Berkeley, California. Shading tests for the BIPV IGU were also conducted and the results revealed that the vertical configuration of solar cell wiring in the BIPV laminates was much more sensitive to horizontal shading patterns than vertical shading models. Thus, if shading was unavoidable in some cases, a reasonable arrangement of PV strings should be considered to bring down the energy loss as much as possible. Also, the impacts of environmental factors on the energy conversion efficiency of BIPV IGU were analyzed. Specifically, the power output declined by 0.42% of the peak power for each Celsius degree temperature rise. Thus, if more attention was paid to the heat dissipation issue of BIPV IGU, the overall energy conversion efficiency would be improved.

Suggested Citation

  • Peng, Jinqing & Curcija, Dragan C. & Thanachareonkit, Anothai & Lee, Eleanor S. & Goudey, Howdy & Selkowitz, Stephen E., 2019. "Study on the overall energy performance of a novel c-Si based semitransparent solar photovoltaic window," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C), pages 854-872.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:242:y:2019:i:c:p:854-872
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.03.107
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030626191930515X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.03.107?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chae, Young Tae & Kim, Jeehwan & Park, Hongsik & Shin, Byungha, 2014. "Building energy performance evaluation of building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) window with semi-transparent solar cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 217-227.
    2. Saber, Esmail M. & Lee, Siew Eang & Manthapuri, Sumanth & Yi, Wang & Deb, Chirag, 2014. "PV (photovoltaics) performance evaluation and simulation-based energy yield prediction for tropical buildings," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 588-595.
    3. Li, Danny H.W. & Lam, Tony N.T. & Chan, Wilco W.H. & Mak, Ada H.L., 2009. "Energy and cost analysis of semi-transparent photovoltaic in office buildings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(5), pages 722-729, May.
    4. Cannavale, Alessandro & Hörantner, Maximilian & Eperon, Giles E. & Snaith, Henry J. & Fiorito, Francesco & Ayr, Ubaldo & Martellotta, Francesco, 2017. "Building integration of semitransparent perovskite-based solar cells: Energy performance and visual comfort assessment," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 194(C), pages 94-107.
    5. Olivieri, L. & Caamaño-Martín, E. & Moralejo-Vázquez, F.J. & Martín-Chivelet, N. & Olivieri, F. & Neila-Gonzalez, F.J., 2014. "Energy saving potential of semi-transparent photovoltaic elements for building integration," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 572-583.
    6. Ng, Poh Khai & Mithraratne, Nalanie, 2014. "Lifetime performance of semi-transparent building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) glazing systems in the tropics," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 736-745.
    7. Peng, Jinqing & Lu, Lin & Yang, Hongxing & Ma, Tao, 2015. "Comparative study of the thermal and power performances of a semi-transparent photovoltaic façade under different ventilation modes," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 572-583.
    8. Park, K.E. & Kang, G.H. & Kim, H.I. & Yu, G.J. & Kim, J.T., 2010. "Analysis of thermal and electrical performance of semi-transparent photovoltaic (PV) module," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(6), pages 2681-2687.
    9. Luo, Yongqiang & Zhang, Ling & Liu, Zhongbing & Wang, Yingzi & Meng, Fangfang & Wu, Jing, 2016. "Thermal performance evaluation of an active building integrated photovoltaic thermoelectric wall system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 25-39.
    10. Wong, P.W. & Shimoda, Y. & Nonaka, M. & Inoue, M. & Mizuno, M., 2008. "Semi-transparent PV: Thermal performance, power generation, daylight modelling and energy saving potential in a residential application," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(5), pages 1024-1036.
    11. Wang, Meng & Peng, Jinqing & Li, Nianping & Lu, Lin & Ma, Tao & Yang, Hongxing, 2016. "Assessment of energy performance of semi-transparent PV insulating glass units using a validated simulation model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 538-548.
    12. Skandalos, Nikolaos & Karamanis, Dimitris, 2015. "PV glazing technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 306-322.
    13. Cannavale, Alessandro & Ierardi, Laura & Hörantner, Maximilian & Eperon, Giles E. & Snaith, Henry J. & Ayr, Ubaldo & Martellotta, Francesco, 2017. "Improving energy and visual performance in offices using building integrated perovskite-based solar cells: A case study in Southern Italy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 834-846.
    14. Husain, Alaa A.F. & Hasan, Wan Zuha W. & Shafie, Suhaidi & Hamidon, Mohd N. & Pandey, Shyam Sudhir, 2018. "A review of transparent solar photovoltaic technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 779-791.
    15. Han, Jun & Lu, Lin & Yang, Hongxing, 2010. "Numerical evaluation of the mixed convective heat transfer in a double-pane window integrated with see-through a-Si PV cells with low-e coatings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(11), pages 3431-3437, November.
    16. Peng, Jinqing & Curcija, Dragan C. & Lu, Lin & Selkowitz, Stephen E. & Yang, Hongxing & Zhang, Weilong, 2016. "Numerical investigation of the energy saving potential of a semi-transparent photovoltaic double-skin facade in a cool-summer Mediterranean climate," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 345-356.
    17. Peng, Jinqing & Lu, Lin & Yang, Hongxing & Ma, Tao, 2015. "Validation of the Sandia model with indoor and outdoor measurements for semi-transparent amorphous silicon PV modules," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 316-323.
    18. Miyazaki, T. & Akisawa, A. & Kashiwagi, T., 2005. "Energy savings of office buildings by the use of semi-transparent solar cells for windows," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 30(3), pages 281-304.
    19. Wang, Meng & Peng, Jinqing & Li, Nianping & Yang, Hongxing & Wang, Chunlei & Li, Xue & Lu, Tao, 2017. "Comparison of energy performance between PV double skin facades and PV insulating glass units," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 194(C), pages 148-160.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Tiantian Zhang & Meng Wang & Hongxing Yang, 2018. "A Review of the Energy Performance and Life-Cycle Assessment of Building-Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-34, November.
    2. Yu, Guoqing & Yang, Hongxing & Luo, Daina & Cheng, Xu & Ansah, Mark Kyeredey, 2021. "A review on developments and researches of building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) windows and shading blinds," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    3. Peng, Jinqing & Curcija, Dragan C. & Lu, Lin & Selkowitz, Stephen E. & Yang, Hongxing & Zhang, Weilong, 2016. "Numerical investigation of the energy saving potential of a semi-transparent photovoltaic double-skin facade in a cool-summer Mediterranean climate," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 345-356.
    4. Cheng, Yuanda & Gao, Min & Jia, Jie & Sun, Yanyi & Fan, Yi & Yu, Min, 2019. "An optimal and comparison study on daylight and overall energy performance of double-glazed photovoltaics windows in cold region of China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 356-366.
    5. Wang, Meng & Peng, Jinqing & Li, Nianping & Yang, Hongxing & Wang, Chunlei & Li, Xue & Lu, Tao, 2017. "Comparison of energy performance between PV double skin facades and PV insulating glass units," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 194(C), pages 148-160.
    6. Vassiliades, C. & Agathokleous, R. & Barone, G. & Forzano, C. & Giuzio, G.F. & Palombo, A. & Buonomano, A. & Kalogirou, S., 2022. "Building integration of active solar energy systems: A review of geometrical and architectural characteristics," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    7. Xuan, Qingdong & Li, Guiqiang & Lu, Yashun & Zhao, Bin & Wang, Fuqiang & Pei, Gang, 2021. "Daylighting utilization and uniformity comparison for a concentrator-photovoltaic window in energy saving application on the building," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 214(C).
    8. Cheng, Yuanda & Gao, Min & Dong, Jiankai & Jia, Jie & Zhao, Xudong & Li, Guiqiang, 2018. "Investigation on the daylight and overall energy performance of semi-transparent photovoltaic facades in cold climatic regions of China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 232(C), pages 517-526.
    9. Wang, Meng & Peng, Jinqing & Li, Nianping & Lu, Lin & Ma, Tao & Yang, Hongxing, 2016. "Assessment of energy performance of semi-transparent PV insulating glass units using a validated simulation model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 538-548.
    10. Joaquim Romaní & Alba Ramos & Jaume Salom, 2022. "Review of Transparent and Semi-Transparent Building-Integrated Photovoltaics for Fenestration Application Modeling in Building Simulations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-30, April.
    11. Luo, Yongqiang & Zhang, Ling & Wang, Xiliang & Xie, Lei & Liu, Zhongbing & Wu, Jing & Zhang, Yelin & He, Xihua, 2017. "A comparative study on thermal performance evaluation of a new double skin façade system integrated with photovoltaic blinds," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 281-293.
    12. Skandalos, Nikolaos & Wang, Meng & Kapsalis, Vasileios & D'Agostino, Delia & Parker, Danny & Bhuvad, Sushant Suresh & Udayraj, & Peng, Jinqing & Karamanis, Dimitris, 2022. "Building PV integration according to regional climate conditions: BIPV regional adaptability extending Köppen-Geiger climate classification against urban and climate-related temperature increases," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    13. Sun, Yanyi & Shanks, Katie & Baig, Hasan & Zhang, Wei & Hao, Xia & Li, Yongxue & He, Bo & Wilson, Robin & Liu, Hao & Sundaram, Senthilarasu & Zhang, Jingquan & Xie, Lingzhi & Mallick, Tapas & Wu, Yupe, 2018. "Integrated semi-transparent cadmium telluride photovoltaic glazing into windows: Energy and daylight performance for different architecture designs," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C), pages 972-984.
    14. Yang, Tingting & Athienitis, Andreas K., 2016. "A review of research and developments of building-integrated photovoltaic/thermal (BIPV/T) systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 886-912.
    15. Wang, Chuyao & Ji, Jie & Uddin, Md Muin & Yu, Bendong & Song, Zhiying, 2021. "The study of a double-skin ventilated window integrated with CdTe cells in a rural building," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(PA).
    16. Liu, Keke & Wang, Meng & Peng, Jinqing & Li, Sihui & Luo, Yimo & Zhang, Xiaofeng, 2024. "Effect of angle of incidence on the optical-electrical-thermal performance of photovoltaic insulated glass units," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C).
    17. Daniel Efurosibina Attoye & Kheira Anissa Tabet Aoul & Ahmed Hassan, 2017. "A Review on Building Integrated Photovoltaic Façade Customization Potentials," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-24, December.
    18. María Herrando & Alba Ramos, 2022. "Photovoltaic-Thermal (PV-T) Systems for Combined Cooling, Heating and Power in Buildings: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-28, April.
    19. Ghosh, Aritra & Norton, Brian, 2018. "Advances in switchable and highly insulating autonomous (self-powered) glazing systems for adaptive low energy buildings," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 1003-1031.
    20. Skandalos, Nikolaos & Karamanis, Dimitris, 2015. "PV glazing technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 306-322.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:242:y:2019:i:c:p:854-872. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.