BIPVT systems for residential applications: An energy and economic analysis for European climates. (15th December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Buonomano, Annamaria; Calise, Francesco; Palombo, Adolfo; Vicidomini, Maria
• Is Part Of: Applied energy. Volume 184(2016)
• Page Start: 1411
• Page End: 1431
• Publication Date: 2016-12-15
• Subjects: Dynamic energy performance simulation -- Solar energy -- BIPVT -- Building Integrated Solar Thermal Systems (BISTS); Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Energy conservation -- Periodicals; Energy conversion -- Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.02.145
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-2619

Abstract

Highlights: Dynamic simulations models of different BIPVT system layouts are developed. BIPVT active and passive effects on the building energy consumptions are assessed. A comprehensive parametric analysis for a residential application is carried out. BIPVT energy performances for several European weather zones are calculated. High energy and economic savings for heating, cooling and DHW are obtained. Abstract: This paper analyses the energy and economic performance of roof and/or façades Building Integrated flat-plate PhotoVoltaic and Thermal (BIPVT) collectors for residential applications. Aim of the analysis is to assess the active and passive effects due to the building integration of solar technologies on the building energy consumptions. In particular, a comparison among innovative building-plant system configurations, based on BIPVT collectors for the simultaneous production of electricity, thermal energy, and domestic hot water, is carried out. The simulation models of the proposed system layouts are designed and implemented in TRNSYS simulation environment for the dynamic assessment of their energy and economic performance. By means of the developed simulation model, the occurring summer and winter building passive energy effects due to the PVT building integration are also analysed. Several case studies are developed by modelling a representative multi-storey residential building and by taking into account different European climates. For such case studies a suitable energy parametric analysis is performed by varying the thermal resistances and capacitances of the building envelope. By the simulation results interesting design and economic feasibility guidelines are obtained. In particular, by varying the weather location and the building-plant configuration, the adoption of BIPVT panels produces a decrease of the primary energy demands from 67% to 89%. The passive effects of the BIPVT system in both the winter and summer season are also assessed for all the investigated climate zones. The calculated economic profitability resulted slightly better for roof BIPVT panels than for roof and façade applications. For the investigated case studies, the pay back periods appear quite long, varying from 11 years for South European weather zones to 20 for North European ones.