What is BIPV?
Photovoltaics (PV) can be attached to existing buildings or built into the fabric of new architecture. Integrating PV into the skin of a building (building-integrated PV), or applying a solar module to a conventional building material (building applied PV) provide ways of developing the widespread use of PV.
The UK has substantial built-up areas, which can be used to develop large installations of PV. The electricity generated by the PV can be used directly in the building or fed back into the grid.
Both new and existing buildings can benefit greatly from BIPV. The appearance of the building façade can be improved through the addition of coloured PV cells and glazing. An important advance in this area has been the development of luminescent solar concentrators (LSC’s). Luminescent solar concentrators are well suited for use in the UK’s overcast weather conditions because they can function with diffuse (cloudy) light and be made in a wide range of colours and forms. They can be made from plastic or glass, so are ideal for incorporation into glazing.
What are the challenges for BIPV?
A considerable challenge to overcome to allow for greater uptake of PV material within architectural design is to increase the range of colour and form of PV material. At present, the cost and performance penalties involved in creation of innovative BIPV designs tend to be prohibitive. LSC’s offer a colour alternative to the traditional blue and black PV panels. The disadvantage of LSC’s is their low efficiency. Improving the efficiency of these systems will allow for the availability of a cost effective, colour alternative.
How are these challenges being addressed by SISER researchers?
Heriot-Watt University is carrying out research into increasing the range of colour and form of PV. Their current work is focused on the use of LSC’s.The research aims are include developing new products that generate electricity due to incorporation of PV and can be used in the creation of aesthetically-pleasing architecture and works of art; to develop approaches and construct models for best practice in inventive and aesthetic use of PV,
PV cells are typically opaque to visible light therefore are unsuitable for use as windows etc. A solution to the above problem is proposed by Glasgow Caledonian University through the use of novel static low concentrating photovoltaics, which focus light onto an array of PV cells integrated in the window pane. The arrangement allows light transmission in the spaces between each PV cell but it also provides a high power output due to the wide acceptance angle of the 3-D concentrator. The technology is particularly suitable for use as windows, skylights or a roof cladding panel etc.
SISER researchers with interest in BIPV are: Prof. Tariq Muneer, Dr Roberto Ramirez, Prof. Susan Roaf and Dr Fan Wang.
Full details of all SISER researchers are found on the SISER People Page.
Publications
Georgios Andreadis, Susan Roaf and Tapas Mallick. Tackling fuel poverty with building-integrated solar technologies: The case of the city of Dundee in Scotland. Energy and Buildings 59:310-320, 2013. P Clarke, S Munawwar, A Davidson, T Muneer and J Kubie. An investigation of possible improvements in accuracy of regressions between diffuse and global solar irradiation. Building Services Engineering Research & Technology 28(2):189-197, 2007. P Clarke, T Muneer, A Davidson and J Kubie. Models for the estimation of building integrated photovoltaic systems in urban environments. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Part a-Journal of Power and Energy 222(A1):61-67, 2008. M Fuentes, A Dichler and S Roaf. The Oxford Solar House. Renewable Energy 8(1-4):145-153, 1996. D Infield, L Mei and U Eicker. Thermal performance estimation for ventilated PV facades. Solar Energy 76(1-3):93-98, 2004. Y Ji, M J Cook, V I Hanby, D G Infield, D L Loveday and L Mei. CFD modelling of Double-Skin Facades with venetian blinds. Building Simulation 2007, Vols 1-3, Proceedings, pages 1491-1498, 2007. Gudrun Kocher-Oberlehner, Maria Bardosova, Martyn Pemble and Bryce S Richards. Planar photonic solar concentrators for building-integrated photovoltaics. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 104:53-57, 2012. R W Martin, S C Howell, R J Jones, S H Bhavnani and Asme. Habitat operated utilizing solar energy (house)(c): A grid-independent 100% solar-powered residential dwelling. Energy Conversion and Resources - 2003 series, 2003. L Mei, D Infield, U Eicker and V Fux. Thermal modelling of a building with an integrated ventilated PV facade. Energy and Buildings 35(6):605-617, 2003. L Mei, D G Infield, R Gottschalg, D L Loveday, D Davies and M Berry. Equilibrium thermal characteristics of a building integrated photovoltaic tiled roof. Solar Energy 83(10):1893-1901, 2009. Firdaus Muhammad-Sukki, Abu Bakar Munir, Roberto Ramirez-Iniguez, Siti Hawa Abu-Bakar, Siti Hajar Mohd Yasin, Scott G McMeekin and Brian G Stewart. Solar photovoltaic in Malaysia: The way forward. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews 16(7):5232-5244, 2012. An evaluation of the installation of solar photovoltaic in residential houses in Malaysia: Past, present, and future. Energy Policy 39(12):7975-7987, 2011. R Setchi, I Jordanov, R J Howlett and L C Jain (eds.). Optimised Dielectric Totally Internally Reflecting Concentrator for the Solar Photonic Optoelectronic Transformer System: Maximum Concentration Method. Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence series, volume 6279, pages 633-641, 2010. Firdaus Muhammad-Sukki, Roberto Ramirez-Iniguez, Abu Bakar Munir, Siti Hajar Mohd Yasin, Siti Hawa Abu-Bakar, Scott G McMeekin and Brian G Stewart. Revised feed-in tariff for solar photovoltaic in the United Kingdom: A cloudy future ahead?. Energy Policy 52:832-838, 2013. S Roaf. The UK photovoltaic house - A one world approach to buildings. Appropriate Technology 22(3):10-10, 1995. Fan Wang, Alvaro Manzanares-Bennett, Jan Tucker, Susan Roaf and Nicholas Heath. A feasibility study on solar-wall systems for domestic heating - An affordable solution for fuel poverty. Solar Energy 86(9):2405-2415, 2012.
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BibTeX@article{Planar photonic solar concentrators for building-integrated photovoltaics,
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BibTeX@article{Equilibrium thermal characteristics of a building integrated photovoltaic tiled roof,
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BibTeX@article{Solar photovoltaic in Malaysia: The way forward,
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BibTeX@article{Revised feed-in tariff for solar photovoltaic in the United Kingdom: A cloudy future ahead?,
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title = "Revised feed-in tariff for solar photovoltaic in the United Kingdom: A cloudy future ahead?",
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BibTeX@article{The UK photovoltaic house - A one world approach to buildings,
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