Initial Field Testing Results from Building-Integrated Solar Energy Harvesting Windows Installation in Perth, Australia

Vasiliev, Mikhail; Nur-E-Alam, Mohammad; Alameh, Kamal

doi:10.3390/app9194002

Cited by 13 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…We also developed MDC-containing multilayer structures, and their characterisation results suggest that MDC layers can replace the pure-metal layers in multilayer optical coatings, thus offering a new possibility to design and fabricate highly durable and environmentally stable coatings on glass, suitable for solar and thermal regulation technologies [107]. Of particular importance are the forward-looking emergent and future applications of MDC-based highly stable, high-transparency, low-emissivity (heat-mirror-type) coatings in novel areas, such as solar window development [108]. High-transparency, energy-generating, and simultaneously energy-saving solar window products are currently at the cutting edge of the worldwide product development efforts in building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), which itself is an area of rapid growth in both research and the marketplace [109].…”

Section: Metal–dielectric Nanocomposite-based Multilayer Building mentioning

confidence: 99%

Application-Specific Oxide-Based and Metal–Dielectric Thin-Film Materials Prepared by Radio Frequency Magnetron Sputtering

et al. 2019

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We report on the development of several different thin-film functional material systems prepared by radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering at Edith Cowan University nanofabrication labs. While focusing on the RF sputtering process optimizations for new or the previously underexplored material compositions and multilayer structures, we disclose several unforeseen material properties and behaviours. Among these are an unconventional magnetic hysteresis loop with an intermediate saturation state observed in garnet trilayers, and an ultrasensitive magnetic switching behaviour in garnet-oxide composites (GOC). We also report on the unusually high thermal exposure stability observed in some nanoengineered metal–dielectric multilayers. We communicate research results related to the design, prototyping, and practical fabrication of high-performance magneto-optic (MO) materials, oxide-based sensor components, and heat regulation coatings for advanced construction and solar windows.

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Section: Metal–dielectric Nanocomposite-based Multilayer Building mentioning

confidence: 99%

Application-Specific Oxide-Based and Metal–Dielectric Thin-Film Materials Prepared by Radio Frequency Magnetron Sputtering

et al. 2019

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“…This redirection of light can occur either through the internal light diffusion mechanisms, for example by diffraction or scattering [24]), or it can be engineered through luminescent down-conversion, or even up-conversion, where most of light rays are reemitted by the embedded luminescent particles at different wavelengths can be partially trapped within glass due to total internal reflection. Installing additional front-facing narrow PV modules near the system perimeter to face direct full-spectrum sunlight would effectively reduce the geometric gain factor, but meaningfully increase the overall light capture efficiency to boost energy output [16,22]. Therefore, considering all of the optical, materials-related, and electrical factors strongly affecting the system operation, a multidisciplinary design approach is needed to engineer practical LSC-type solar window devices capable of providing stable energy output and large energy yields in realistic deployment conditions.…”

Section: Approach Methodology Materials and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A range of BIPV and high-transparency WIPV systems has been developed by Clear-Vue Technologies (Perth, Western Australia) [21], which have been tested for compliance with the relevant industry standards and proven to be suitable for deployment in both the construction sector [22] and greenhouses [23]. ClearVue solar WIPV systems feature the following set of innovative features:…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Field Performance Monitoring of Energy-Generating High-Transparency Agrivoltaic Glass Windows

Vasiliev,

Rosenberg,

Lyford

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Currently there are strong and sustained growth trends observed in multi-disciplinary industrial technologies such as building-integrated photovoltaics and agrivoltaics, where renewable energy production is featured in building envelopes of varying degrees of transparency. Novel glass products can provide a combination of thermal energy savings and solar energy harvesting, enabled by either patterned-semiconductor thin-film energy converters on glass substrates, or by using luminescent concentrator-type approaches to achieve high transparency. Significant progress has been demonstrated recently in building integrated solar windows featuring visible light transmission of up to 70%, with electric power outputs of up to Pmax ~ 30-33 Wp/m2. Several slightly different designs were tested during 2021-2023 in a greenhouse installation at Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia. The objective of this paper is to report on the field performance of these PV windows in the context of agrivoltaics, and to provide some detail of the performance differences measured in several solar window designs related to their glazing structure materials. Methods for the identification and quantification of long-term field performance differences and energy generation trends in solar windows of marginally different design types are reported. The paper also aims to outline the practical application potential of these transparent construction materials in built environments, focussing on the measured renewable energy figures and seasonal trends observed during the long-term study.

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“…This redirection of incident light can occur either through the internal light diffusion mechanisms (e.g., diffraction or scattering), or it can be engineered through luminescent downconversion (or even upconversion), where the majority of light rays re-emitted by the embedded luminescent particles at different wavelengths can be partially trapped within glass due to total internal reflection. Installing additional front-facing narrow PV modules near the system perimeter to face direct full-spectrum sunlight would effectively reduce the geometric gain factor, but meaningfully increases the overall light capture efficiency [21,22,29]. Utilising the luminescent downshifting (LDS) functionality by selecting the appropriate luminophore materials for use in transparent LSC can further increase the system PCE due to improving the spectral response matching between the solar cells and the wavelength-converted luminescent emissions [19,29À31].…”

Section: Principal Characteristics and Features Of Luminescent Concen...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several recent showcase implementations of ClearVue high-transparency solar window technologies in built environments, including both the research-oriented and commercial agrivoltaic facilities are shown in Figure 1; some of the performance-related datasets obtained from these installations have been reported in [4,21,22].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High-transparency clear window-based agrivoltaics

Vasiliev,

Rosenberg,

Goodfield

et al. 2023

Sust. Build.

Self Cite

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A number of modern glass and window products based on novel glazing designs, low-emissivity thin-film coatings, and proprietary fluorescent interlayer types have been developed recently. Advanced windows of today can control properties such as thermal emissivity, heat gain, colour, and transparency. In novel glass products, solar energy harvesting through PV integration is also featured, enabled by either patterned-semiconductor thin-film energy conversion surfaces, or by using luminescent concentrator-type approaches to achieve higher transparency. Typically, semitransparent and also highly-transparent PV windows are purpose-designed, for applications in construction industry and agrivoltaics (greenhousing), to include special types of luminescent materials, diffractive microstructures, and customized glazing systems and electric circuitry. Recently, significant progress has been demonstrated in building integrated high-transparency solar windows (featuring visible light transmission of up to 70%, with electric power output Pmax ∼ 30−33 Wp/m2, e.g. ClearVue PV Solar Windows); these are expected to add momentum towards the development of smart cities and advanced agrivoltaics in greenhouse installations. At present (in 2023), these ClearVue window designs are the only type of visually-clear and deployment-ready construction materials capable of providing significant energy savings in buildings, simultaneously with a significant amount of renewable energy generation. The objective of this study is to place the recent industrialised development of ClearVue® PV window systems into a broader context of prior studies in the field of luminescent concentrators, as well as to provide some details on the measured performance characteristics of several ClearVue window design types deployed within the building envelope of a research greenhouse, and to elucidate the corresponding differences in their energy harvesting behaviour. An evaluation of the practical applications potential of these recently developed transparent agrivoltaic construction materials is provided, focussing on the measured renewable energy generation figures and the seasonal trends observed during a long-term study. This article reports on the measured performance characteristics of research greenhouse-based agrivoltaic installation constructed at Murdoch University (Perth, Australia) in early 2021.The solar greenhouse at Murdoch University has demonstrated great potential for commercial food production with significant energy savings due to on-site energy production from its building envelope.

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Initial Field Testing Results from Building-Integrated Solar Energy Harvesting Windows Installation in Perth, Australia

Cited by 13 publications

References 31 publications

Application-Specific Oxide-Based and Metal–Dielectric Thin-Film Materials Prepared by Radio Frequency Magnetron Sputtering

Application-Specific Oxide-Based and Metal–Dielectric Thin-Film Materials Prepared by Radio Frequency Magnetron Sputtering

Field Performance Monitoring of Energy-Generating High-Transparency Agrivoltaic Glass Windows

High-transparency clear window-based agrivoltaics

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