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A Building-Integrated Bifacial and Transparent PV Generator Operated by an “Under-Glass” Single Axis Solar Tracker

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  • Rosario Carbone

    (Dipartimento dell’Informazione, delle Infrastrutture e dell’Energia Sostenibile—“D.I.I.E.S.”, University “Mediterranea” of Reggio Calabria, 89124 Reggio Calabria, Italy)

  • Cosimo Borrello

    (Dipartimento dell’Informazione, delle Infrastrutture e dell’Energia Sostenibile—“D.I.I.E.S.”, University “Mediterranea” of Reggio Calabria, 89124 Reggio Calabria, Italy)

Abstract

Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs) play a key role in the world energy transition. This is motivating the scientific community to develop innovative electrical and thermal systems characterized by very high efficiency to specifically address the energy needs of modern buildings. Naturally, the integration of the latest generation photovoltaic (PV) systems into buildings helps to satisfy this need, and, with this objective in mind, an innovative and highly efficient building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) system is presented and discussed in this paper. The proposed PV system is purpose-built to be fully integrated into a variety of buildings (preferably into their rooftops) and assumes the form of a PV skylight. It is based on a certain number of innovative rotating bifacial PV modules, which are specifically made to be installed “under-glass” within a custom-made transparent casing. Thanks to their properties, the PV modules can be rotated using a very low-power, reliable, and efficient mono-axial solar tracking system, fully protected against adverse atmospheric agents. Once the proposed PV skylight is fully integrated into a building, it generates electricity and, additionally, helps to improve both the energy performance and the aesthetic appearance of the building. The electricity generation and illuminance performances of the proposed PV skylight are experimentally tested using a low-power homemade prototype driven by different solar tracking logics and under different operating conditions; the most relevant results are summarized and extensively discussed. The main outcome of the experimental study is that the most effective performance of the PV skylight is obtained by installing, in its available surface, the maximum possible number of rotating bifacial PV modules, side by side and with no empty spaces between them.

Suggested Citation

  • Rosario Carbone & Cosimo Borrello, 2023. "A Building-Integrated Bifacial and Transparent PV Generator Operated by an “Under-Glass” Single Axis Solar Tracker," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-29, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:17:p:6350-:d:1231327
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sebastijan Seme & Bojan Štumberger & Miralem Hadžiselimović & Klemen Sredenšek, 2020. "Solar Photovoltaic Tracking Systems for Electricity Generation: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-24, August.
    2. D'Agostino, D. & Minelli, F. & D'Urso, M. & Minichiello, F., 2022. "Fixed and tracking PV systems for Net Zero Energy Buildings: Comparison between yearly and monthly energy balance," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 809-824.
    3. Saadon, Syamimi & Gaillard, Leon & Menezo, Christophe & Giroux-Julien, Stéphanie, 2020. "Exergy, exergoeconomic and enviroeconomic analysis of a building integrated semi-transparent photovoltaic/thermal (BISTPV/T) by natural ventilation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 981-989.
    4. Bin Huang & Jialiang Huang & Ke Xing & Lida Liao & Peiling Xie & Meng Xiao & Wei Zhao, 2023. "Development of a Solar-Tracking System for Horizontal Single-Axis PV Arrays Using Spatial Projection Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-19, May.
    5. Ma, Wenyong & Zhang, Weida & Zhang, Xiaobin & Chen, Wei & Tan, Qiang, 2023. "Experimental investigations on the wind load interference effects of single-axis solar tracker arrays," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 566-580.
    6. 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.
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    1. Jurgis Zagorskas & Zenonas Turskis, 2025. "Performance Evaluation and Integration Strategies for Solar Façades in Diverse Climates: A State-of-the-Art Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-31, January.

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