Potential Energy Savings from a Semi-Transparent Solar Cell Window System for Code-Compliant Residential Buildings in Hot and Humid Climates

© 2016. The Authors. A semi-transparent solar cell window system is one of the most recent building integrated PV window technologies (i.e., BIPV window). This type of BIPV window systems can generate photovoltaic electric energy and can be designed to admit a specific amount of natural light and/or view to an indoor space. This study evaluates potential energy benefits of integrate semi-transparent solar cell windows on a 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) code-compliant residential building in a hot and humid climate. The energy analysis is based on a whole-building simulation model with a DOE-2.1e, which include a BIPV window module specially made for this study. The study analyzed peak demand, energy use, and electricity production from each orientation (east-, west-, south-, and north-facing). As a result, the south-facing window showed the greatest potential to generate electric power and to reduce building loads and system energy use. In comparison to the code-compliant base-case model, the BIPV windows provided noticeable energy savings about 12-21% in annual site energy use.

Potential Energy Savings from a Semi-Transparent Solar Cell Window System for Code-Compliant Residential Buildings in Hot and Humid Climates Conference Paper