Technical and economic evaluation of thin-film CdTe building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) replacing façade and rooftop materials in office buildings in a warm and sunny climate

Sorgato, Márcio José; Schneider, Kathlen; Rüther, Ricardo

doi:10.1016/j.renene.2017.10.091

Cited by 127 publications

(72 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…This trend promotes research in the field of integrated photovoltaics, and in particular Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV), which are envisioned to substitute conventional building materials, such as roofing, skylights, or facades and open up entirely new concepts of implemented energy harvesting with added functionality . Although conventional opaque solar cells exhibit high efficiencies, they require dedicated space and additional installation efforts in the form of metal frame constructions on the roof or façade; a general disadvantage within the BIPV context ( Figure ). The research topic of semitransparent organic solar cells (OSCs) addresses the aforementioned issues by offering solutions, such as the implementation of flexible semitransparent OSCs into glass windows and roofs of new or existing buildings, greenhouses, vehicles, or mobile electronic devices, thereby transforming them into energy harvesting multifunctional units .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solution‐Processed Semitransparent Organic Photovoltaics: From Molecular Design to Device Performance

et al. 2019

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Recent research efforts on solution-processed semitransparent organic solar cells (OSCs) are presented. Essential properties of organic donor:acceptor bulk heterojunction blends and electrode materials, required for the combination of simultaneous high power conversion efficiency (PCE) and average visible transmittance of photovoltaic devices, are presented from the materials science and device engineering points of view. Aspects of optical perception, charge generation-recombination, and extraction processes relevant for semitransparent OSCs are also discussed in detail. Furthermore, the theoretical limits of PCE for fully transparent OSCs, compared to the performance of the best reported semitransparent OSCs, and options for further optimization are discussed. Hall of Fame ArticleAlthough the last decade has seen much progress in the field of OSC research, the development of semitransparent devices lags behind because of the lack of optimized photoactive materials. [22][23][24][25] The strong absorption of the active materials in the visible region causes difficulty when one tries to balance the power conversion efficiency (PCE) and transmittance. Encouragingly, the recent progress of fullerene-free OSCs has the potential to shed fundamental solutions to overcome these obstacles, hence becoming attractive research topics on developing narrow-bandgap nonfullerene acceptors to researchers. [26][27][28][29][30] We focus in this section on presenting recent progress in the design of narrow-bandgap organic semiconductors that have bandgaps less than 1.5 eV and have extended the boundaries of visible transparent/NIR absorbing OSC technology. Solution-Processable Organic SemiconductorsOrganic semiconductors are carbon-based materials with an electronically delocalized π-conjugated backbone. Such π-conjugated systems are created by a linear series of overlapping p z orbitals (π bonds). [31,32] As the parallel overlap of carbon p z orbitals increases with the molecular extension, the π bonds may further spread out into π bands, and this leads to a narrower energy bandgap. The energy of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) corresponds to the topmost π band, and the lowest π* band is referred to as the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO). The energy gap between the HOMO and the LUMO dominates optical properties. Photoexcitations result in Coulombically bound excitons (electron-hole pairs) due to the low dielectric constant (ε ≈ 2−4) characteristic of organic semiconductors. [33,34] The exciton binding energy is in the range of 0.3−1 eV, thus requiring a high interfacial area between electron donor (D) and electron acceptor (A) components to promote exciton dissociation into free carriers. [35,36] This approach has led to the development of organic bulk heterojunctions (BHJs), which are cast from blend solutions of D and A components. [37][38][39] The excitonic nature of organic semiconductors offers an advantage in wavelength-specific light harvesting applications through a delicate manipulation of energy ...

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solution‐Processed Semitransparent Organic Photovoltaics: From Molecular Design to Device Performance

et al. 2019

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“…Currently, a broad range of state‐of‐the‐art PV technologies such as thin‐film cadmium telluride (CdTe), frameless glass–glass PV modules are available. To a great degree, these provide visually appealing building designs …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To a great degree, these provide visually appealing building designs. 11 Extending over the solar belt, Iran receives an annual average of 20-30 MJ/m 2 solar irradiation and enjoys nearly 300 sunny days over two third of its area, indicating the significant potential for the country for its solar energy applications. 12,13 However, the application of PV systems is still limited in the country, primarily due to the low costs of fossil fuels.…”

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confidence: 99%

Techno‐economic feasibility of building attached photovoltaic systems for the various climatic conditions of Iran

Karimi

Fazelpour

Rosen

et al. 2019

Env Prog and Sustain Energy

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The integration of solar energy systems into buildings via photovoltaic (PV) and other technologies can curb the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by buildings. However, the performance of solar energy systems is highly dependent on climatic and economic conditions. In this regard, the techno‐economic feasibility of building attached PV systems are studied for three scenarios considering three cities of Iran namely Tehran, Tabriz, and Kish Island, which have different climatic conditions. The result shows that the PV systems can annually meet 4.5–20% of the electricity needs for Tehran, 3.0–13% for Tabriz and 2.0–11.5% for Kish Island. Moreover, roof mounted PV systems were found to be a better alternative to envelope attached systems in technical and economic terms. The payback period for the solar energy systems was found to be between 8.7 and 14.3 years for Tehran, 14.2 and 22.6 years for Tabriz, and 11.6 and 21.1 for Kish Island.

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“…10,11 A green and sustainable building is defined as an environmentally friendly and responsible structure, which is also a resource efficient for the building life cycle. 12,13 The utilisation of hydrogen fuel cell (FC) technologies for sustainable building applications is a potential way to deal with the large amount of CO 2 emissions 14 ; FCs are suited for utilisation within micro combined heat and power (CHP) applications in buildings. 15 The main reason is that FC systems have an advantage over conventional CHP systems in terms of lower heat to power ratios.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…7,8 In addition, it is expected that over the next 20 years, more than twothirds of the new buildings will occur in countries that lack of building energy codes. 12,13 The utilisation of hydrogen fuel cell (FC) technologies for sustainable building applications is a potential way to deal with the large amount of CO 2 emissions 14 ; FCs are suited for utilisation within micro combined heat and power (CHP) applications in buildings. 10,11 A green and sustainable building is defined as an environmentally friendly and responsible structure, which is also a resource efficient for the building life cycle.…”

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confidence: 99%

Study on the hydrogenation of an Mm‐based AB ₅ ‐intermetallic for sustainable building applications

Gkanas

2019

Int J Energy Res

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Summary In the present study, a numerical approach regarding the thermal management of an Mm‐based AB5‐intermetallic (MmNi4.6Al0.4) for the hydrogenation process is introduced and analysed. Several heat management scenarios are studied. The numerical model was supported and validated with experimental data in terms of hydrogenation capacity and temperature distribution. The numerical analysis is based on the introduction of the energy, mass, and momentum conservation equations to numerically describe the hydrogenation reaction. The main aim of the present study is the numerical description of the heat management when 200 g of hydrogen are stored (13 kg of the hydride). The heat management cases consider the usage of cooling tubes in combination with high thermal conductivity fins. In general, various parameters affect the efficiency of the heat management. The parameters considered are the fin thickness, the fin number—which is directly connected to the metal hydride thickness convective heat transfer coefficient. A nondimensional parameter (nondimensional conductance [NDC]) specially modified to describe the role of the fins in addition to the cooling tubes is introduced to evaluate the heat management. The target of the study was to reduce the hydrogenation time of almost 13 kg of MmNi4.6Al0.4, and from the parametric study, it has been found that the more efficient conditions are fin thickness between 5 and 8 mm and the convective heat transfer coefficient of 2000 W/m2 K.

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Technical and economic evaluation of thin-film CdTe building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) replacing façade and rooftop materials in office buildings in a warm and sunny climate

Cited by 127 publications

References 22 publications

Solution‐Processed Semitransparent Organic Photovoltaics: From Molecular Design to Device Performance

Solution‐Processed Semitransparent Organic Photovoltaics: From Molecular Design to Device Performance

Techno‐economic feasibility of building attached photovoltaic systems for the various climatic conditions of Iran

Study on the hydrogenation of an Mm‐based AB ₅ ‐intermetallic for sustainable building applications

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Technical and economic evaluation of thin-film CdTe building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) replacing façade and rooftop materials in office buildings in a warm and sunny climate

Cited by 127 publications

References 22 publications

Solution‐Processed Semitransparent Organic Photovoltaics: From Molecular Design to Device Performance

Solution‐Processed Semitransparent Organic Photovoltaics: From Molecular Design to Device Performance

Techno‐economic feasibility of building attached photovoltaic systems for the various climatic conditions of Iran

Study on the hydrogenation of an Mm‐based AB 5 ‐intermetallic for sustainable building applications

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Study on the hydrogenation of an Mm‐based AB ₅ ‐intermetallic for sustainable building applications