Economic Feasibility Comparison between Building-Integrated Photovoltaics and Green Systems in Northeast Texas

Abstract

Various types of photovoltaic (PV) modules have been developed to exploit solar energy, a major renewable energy resource. One of the popular types of PV modules is building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), which are PV modules used as building materials. The goal of this study is to conduct an economic feasibility analysis of BIPV on the rooftop of the Keith D. McFarland Science Building at Texas A&M University, Commerce, Texas. To this end, a polynomial regression (PR) model is developed to estimate the electricity generation quantity of solar energy in the subject area, where the maximum temperature is 104 °F (40 °C) in summer. The developed PR models are used to estimate the potential profit of BIPV on the rooftop of the subject building, and the results are compared with the profit of a green roof system at the subject building. The economic feasibility analyses show that the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of the green roof system is approximately 39.77% higher than that of the BIPV system at a discount rate of 5%. Thus, the BIPV system is more profitable than the green roof system; consequently, this research will contribute to the implementation of BIPV on building rooftops and the expansion of renewable energy use in preference to fossil fuel.

Green Energy Technologies: A Key Driver in Carbon Emission Reduction

“…Colloredo transparent thin-film silicon solar cells have been developed using a transparent distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) electrode, optimizing optical and electrical properties to improve PV performance and aesthetic utility, ideal for BIPV applications [89]. Economic analyses underscore the profitability of BIPVs, showing a significantly lower levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) compared to green roof systems, suggesting a more costeffective renewable energy solution for building rooftops [90]. The potential of BIPVs in urban areas is notable, with studies in Tokyo demonstrating that building façades equipped with BIPV modules could satisfy a significant portion of the annual electricity demand, marking a substantial step towards decarbonization [91].…”

“…Improve capacity, cycle life, and safety for excess solar energy [96,97] Solar thermal energy stands out as a versatile and efficient renewable energy source, harnessing the sun's heat to generate electricity, as well as providing heating and cooling solutions. This technology employs solar thermal collectors to absorb sunlight and convert it into heat, which can then be utilized to produce steam for driving turbines and generating electricity or directly applied in heating and cooling systems [90][91][92][93][94][95][96][97][98][99][100][101]. Distinguishing between solar thermal and solar photovoltaic (PV) energy highlights the unique approaches and applications of these technologies in harnessing solar energy.…”

Design of an Agrivoltaic System with Building Integrated Photovoltaics

“…This popular machine-learning technique captures the correlation between independent and dependent variables through their coefficients [16]. The PR model is described in Equations ( 1) and ( 2) [5].…”

“…The estimation models of electricity generation and soybean production can be used to identify the best shade ratio of BIPV with maximum profit of Z in Equation (5).…”

“…Considering that buildings consume 30% of global energy, using PVs as building elements can mitigate GHG emissions [4]. Accordingly, the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of a roof top BIPV system is only 72% of the LCOE of a green roof system in Texas, USA [5]. Hence, it is a profitable alternative to implement the concept of green buildings.…”