WG 4: PV in the built environment

This WG’s Chair is Ass. Prof. Bogdan Burduhos (Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania) and its Vice-Chair is dr. Mirjana Devetakovich (University of Belgrade, Faculty of Architecture, Serbia).

Email for contact: bogdan.burduhos-at-unitbv.ro

This Working Group deals with the use of photovoltaics in the built environment. In particular with energy performance related issues of the use of photovoltaics in buildings (i.e. so called BIPV, Building Integrated Photovoltaics), and to the use of simulation models for predicting the performance of photovoltaics under the conditions imposed by specific different built environments.

This WG is highly multidisciplinary, since knowledge is necessary from different disciplines: architecture, engineering, urban planning, design.

Objectives:
1. Collection of information about the applications of photovoltaic solar electricity in the built environment using information from WG1, WG2 and WG3 on PV monitoring, reliability and durability and PV simulation respectively and by communications with PV experts, architects, installers, construction and building services engineers and city/urban planners.
2. Identification of required monitored data and appropriate simulation models to be used in the framework of PV in the built environment.
3. Sharing knowledge originating from WG4 with a wider community of PV experts and other experts  in  the  building  sector  by  internet,  workshops,  seminars  and  joint  publications.

Tasks:

Tasks and deliverables are structured so that there is a preliminary analysis phase, followed by a methodological proposal for tailoring the desired outputs of the action to the specific case of the use of photovoltaic technologies in the built environment. Based on results from the preliminary analysis, approaches will be chosen to build up a vision for the action.

Task 4.1: Collection of information in the data server of this Action about PV in the built environment, from realized projects, publications and information retrieved from internet, together with PV experts, architects, installer, construction and building services engineers and city/urban planners.

Task 4.2: Identification of required data and appropriate simulation models to be used in the framework of PV systems in the built environment given the challenges of (i) shading by neighbouring buildings, (ii) building and planning codes and regulations and (iii) energy performance norms that apply to and/or are required for, buildings.

Task 4.1 has been structured in other four Subtasks, focused on specific research questions:

Sub Task 4.1a CHARACTERIZATION OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND RELATED ISSUES

What is the kind of built environment in which PV is used? What are the challenges in using PV for different built environments? How to describe a specific environment, so as to give the correct inputs to simulation models?

To answer this question, in this multidisciplinary ST, research will be done on: definitions of different built environments; identification of the main PV-related issues; analysis of the main possibilities of use of PV in specific different built environments (suitability and boundary conditions).

Sub Task 4.1.b SIMULATION MODELS AND RELATED ISSUES

What are the simulation models currently used for predicting the energy performance of PV in the built environment? Are there gaps? What information is needed to use them?

This ST will produce a state of the art regarding the simulation models used for predicting the energy performance of PV in the built environment, highlighting the needs for improvements and new functions.

Sub Task 4.1.c BUILDING PLANNING CODES AND REGULATIONS

Very often the use of PV in the built environment is limited due to so called “not technical barriers”, such as building planning codes and regulations. There are also cases where some legislative support exists that fosters the use of PV.

This ST will produce a state of the art of building planning codes and regulations that have an influence on the use of PV in the built environment, based on different country perspectives. Therefore, it includes also translations of national documents in English, when necessary.

Sub Task 4.1.d ENERGY PERFORMANCE NORMS THAT APPLY TO BUILDINGS

Photovoltaics is considered a crucial technology for meeting the goal of the Net Zero Energy balance of buildings. Very often energy performance norms that apply to buildings can influence also the use of PV. From the energy point of view, photovoltaic modules, if used within the building envelope, can be considered both as passive and active elements of the building.

This ST will produce a state of the art of energy performance norms that apply to buildings, based on different country perspectives. Therefore, it includes also translations of national documents in English, when necessary.

Deliverables:
D11. Publications of findings originating from WG4 in high-impact journals, conference proceedings and a special issue of an international peer reviewed journal.
D12. Reports of the WG 4 activities (month 12, 24, 36, 48), including the organisation of two workshops and two seminars about PV in the built environment.
D13. Open source data and software for PV in the built environment.

WG 4 in the context of Country Reports: 

WG4 is composed of participants from over 20 European countries. The scientific papers and articles resulting from the research activities of the WG members are mainly based on analyses and comparison of BIPV applications in various built environments from different countries. Therefore, the Country Reports provides useful information to the WG, see here: Pearl PV Country Reports 2020 download – PEARL PV (pearlpv-cost.eu)

References: 

Burduhos, B.G.; Visa, I.; Neagoe, M.; Devetakovic, M.; Cretescu, N.R. (2020), Comparative Analysis of Software Accuracy in Photovoltaic Energy Estimation for a Temperate Mountain Climate. In: Visa I., Duta A. (eds) Solar Energy Conversion in Communities. Springer Proceedings in Energy. Springer, Cham, pp. 125-139, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-55757-7_9. 

Krstić-Furundžić, A.; Scognamiglio, A.; Devetaković, M.; Frontini, F.; Sudimac, B. (2020), Trends in the integration of photovoltaic facilities into the built environment. Open House International, Vol. 45, No. 1/2, pp. 195-207, https://doi.org/10.1108/OHI- 04-2020-0015. 

Devetaković, M; Djordjević, Dj.; Radojević, M.; Krstić-Furundžić, A.; Burduhos, B. G.; Martinopolous, G.; Neagoe, M.; Lobaccaro, G. (2020), Photovoltaics on Landmark Buildings with Distinctive Geometries. Applied Sciences, Vol 10, No. 19, 6696, https://doi.org/10.3390/app10196696. 

Lobaccaro, G.; Lisowska, M.M.; Saretta, E.; Bonomo, P.; Frontini, F. A (2019), A Methodological Analysis Approach to Assess Solar Energy Potential at the Neighborhood Scale. Energies, Vol. 12, 3554, https://doi.org/10.3390/en12183554. 

Devetaković, M.; Đorđević, Đ.; Đukanović, G.; Krstić-Furundžić, A.; Sudimac, B.; Scognamiglio, A. (2019), Design of Solar Systems for Buildings and Use of BIM Tools: Overview of Relevant Geometric Aspects. FME Transactions, Vol. 47, No. 2, pp. 387- 397, http://dx.doi.org/10.5937/fmet1902387D. 

Lobaccaro, G.; Croce, S.; Lindkvist, C.; Munari Probst, M. C.; Scognamiglio, A.; Dahlberg, J.; Lundgren, M.; Wall, M. A (2019), Cross-country perspective on solar energy in urban planning: Lessons learned from international case studies. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol. 108, pp. 209-237, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2019.03.041. 

Participants (status update May 2022)

  1. David Pera, ULisboa, University of Lisbon, Portugal
  2. Radu Plămânescu, UPB, Politehnica University of Bucharest, Romania
  3. Moira I. Torres Aguilar, I’X, École Polytechnique, France
  4. Macedon-Dumitru Moldovan, UniTBv, Transilvania University of Brașov, Romania
  5. Alina Neagoe, UniTBv, Transilvania University of Brașov, Romania
  6. Aldo Kingma, TNO Innovation for Life, Netherlands
  7. Stefani Peratikou, CUT, Cyprus University of Technology, Cyprus
  8. Filip Cârlea, CPEREE, Center for the Promotion of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, Romania
  9. João-Gabriel Bessa, UJaen, University of Jaén, Spain
  10. Ebrar Özkalay, SUPSI, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Switzerland
  11. Sarah Mc Cormack (Trinity College Dublin, Ireland)
  12. Marlon Drent (Berenschot, Utecht, the Netherlands)
  13. Mihaela Albu (Politehnica University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania)
  14. Tom Minderhoud (UNStudio, Amsterdam, the Netherlands)
  15. Mircea Neagoe, UniTBv, Transilvania University of Brașov, Romania
  16. Alexandru Patrolea, UniTBv, Transilvania University of Brașov, Romania
  17. Anca Duta, UniTBv, Transilvania University of Brașov, Romania