BUILDING INTEGRATION OF PV

The building integration of PV, within the roof, façade or various building components, has a number of advantages as follows;

•  Land use is avoided.

•  The building envelope provides sufficient area for electricity generation.

•  Utilisation is not restricted in densely populated urban areas.

•  Transmission and distribution losses are avoided as power is generated at the point of use.

•  The value of electricity generated is maximised.

•  PV panels will replace conventional building materials and therefore the cost of implementing the PV will be reduced.

• The aesthetics of the building may be enhanced.

The conflict interface between contemporary building convention and solar considerations is a fundamental issue with regards to PV integration within a structure. The key contributory factor in the design of a PV array system is the optimisation of solar access through precise location of the system. The design of a building is inherently more complex as the key contributory factors in building design include optimisation of building floor area, daylight control, thermal performance and aesthetics.

The most basic PV arrays are mounted on free-standing modular frames that can be secured to a roof structure, the exterior of a building or alternatively to the ground. In the majority of applications this method is suitable, however it may visually detract from the architectural integrity of the building therefore harmonising the PV array into the design of the building to become an integral part of the building components themselves is inherently attractive. The benefits are primarily aesthetic as design objectives can be achieved without compromise but there is also substantial economic justification. There are three main methods of building integration;

•  Roofs

•  Facades

•  High filtration and screening elements

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