Photovoltaics potential for façade renovations

Nicoletti, Eleonora

Abstract

As urgent action is needed to tackle the climate crisis by lowering greenhouse gas emissions, façade renovations can improve the performance and reduce the environmental impact of the existing building stock. Integrating photovoltaics into the envelope can supply buildings with electrical energy generated from a renewable resource, limiting energy-related costs and reliance on fossil fuels. Embedding photovoltaics into façades can impact buildings' appearance and environmental performance differently depending on the solar technology used. From crystalline silicon to organic solar cells, first-, second-, and third-generation photovoltaics present varying characteristics such as energy conversion efficiency and visual qualities as well as embodied energy, durability, and recyclability. Additionally, methods ranging from solar concentration to cooling techniques may improve energy generation while reducing the amount of photovoltaic material needed. This study aims to identify the potential of photovoltaic-based technologies for integration into the building envelope, with a particular focus on facade renovation projects and improving the overall performance of existing buildings while considering the environmental impact of photovoltaics. It conducts a review of interdisciplinary literature, design examples, and products, by focusing on photovoltaics for building integration and façade renovation approaches, with attention to the whole lifecycle carbon as well as the experiential quality of solar façades. The paper proposes a framework of potential design strategies for holistically enhancing the performance of façades with integrated photovoltaics in building renovation projects, and highlights possible avenues for future research on the topic.

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (unpublished)
• Conference Name: PowerSKIN 2022
• Start Date: Dec 8, 2022
• End Date: Dec 8, 2022
• Deposit Date: Nov 30, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 1, 2022
• Keywords: Building-Integrated Photovoltaics, Solar Façades, Façade Design, Façade Renovation
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/10196804
• Related Public URLs: https://www.europeanfacadenetwork.eu/event/powerskin-conference-2022/