Researchers have reported that despite technological development in photovoltaic technology and substantial cost reduction, there is still a narrow interest in architectural photovoltaic applications (APA). Lack of interest is correlated to various bottlenecks, and one of them is a lack of knowledge among architects on the possibilities and approaches to adopt APA. In response to the issues mentioned, the aim of the research presented was collecting qualitative and quantitative information from architects as lessons learned and perceptions in regards to APA. In total, 30 architects with and without experience of using photovoltaics (PV) were invited and interviewed. They were asked about their experience, design and decision-making process with PV, their understanding of integration, and the decisive factors to use APA. The results showed apparent differences between the experiences and perceptions, and they highlighted the lessons learned from realized projects. The analysis of the visual implication of PV integration shows that, to the eyes of architects, integration of PV into architecture does not depend on the PV product used, but instead, that when PV is part of the design concept and design process, the outcome is seen as a meaningful integration.

This work presents the concept of a photovoltaic (PV)-powered solar chimney. We modeled and experimentally studied the integration of a PV system within a naturally ventilated façade (NVF), attempting to use the inherent cavity as a ventilation channel to transfer heat. Thermodynamic models were created to study the thermal and, therefore, the electrical performance of a PV system installed at different positions within the cavity of the NVF. An experimental setup of the PV chimney was manufactured to validate the computational models. Results show low root mean square error (RMSE) values for the prediction of the mass flow and the temperature of the different materials considered in the chimney. A basic sensitivity analysis was performed to find the best position of the PV modules within the chimney for a three-story household in the Netherlands. Optimization showed that with a cavity depth of 0.2 m with PV modules located at the front layer, the electric annual yield is maximized. For the same cavity depth, placing the modules in the middle significantly increases heat flow production, albeit with a reduction on electrical performance.

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