Abstract
This chapter presents the importance that the embodied energy of the support material of a photovoltaic installation can have in relation to the energy produced and, therefore, in relation to other efficiency factors in the design of photovoltaic installations. The importance of these costs cannot be neglected in the overall system efficiency.
The monitoring of photovoltaic panels after a few years of operation under real conditions demonstrates that a good integration of photovoltaic systems in constructive elements, even if their inclination or orientation is not the recommended one, may be better than just overlapping them in an optimal position. The embodied energy of the added constructive materials used when the system is not integrated may be more than the loss of production as a result of a nonoptimal photovoltaic modules disposal.
This chapter illustrates the potential that architectural design applied to photovoltaic modules integration could represent, based on the experience of the photovoltaic pergola built in 2004 at the Forum esplanade in Barcelona. The ultimate goal is to consider the architectural design as another, important parameter when sizing photovoltaic systems, together with the orientation, tilt, temperature and other parameters regularly used.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Azadian F, Radzi MAM (2013) A general approach toward building integrated photovoltaic systems and its implementation barriers: a review. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 22:527–538
Jellea BP, Breivikb C (2012) State-of-the-art building integrated photovoltaics. Energy Procedia 20:68–77
Jelle BP, Breivik C (2012) Hilde Drolsum Røkenes. Building integrated photovoltaic products: a state-of-the-art review and future research opportunities. Sol Energy Mater Sol. Cell 100:69–96
Stylos N, Koroneos C (2014) Carbon footprint of polycrystalline photovoltaic systems. J Clean Prod 64:639e645
Beylot A, Payet J, Puech C, Adra N, Jacquin P, Blanc I, Beloin-Saint-Pierre D (2014) Environmental impacts of large-scale grid-connected ground-mounted PV installations. Renew Energy 61:2–6
ITec—Institut de Tecnologia de la Construcció de Catalunya (2010) BEDEC PR/PCT. Data Base of Construction Materials. Barcelona, ITeC
Isofotón (2002) I-165 Módulo Fotovoltaico. Madrid, Isofotón
de Wild-Scholten, Mariska MJ. (2013) Energy payback time and carbon footprint of comercial photovoltaic systems. Sol Energy Mater Sol Cell 119(SI):296–305
Hegazy AA (2001) Effect of dust accumulation on solar transmittance through glass covers of plate-type collectors. Renew Energy 22:525–540
Beattie NS, Moir RS, Chacko C, Buffoni G, Roberts SH, Pearsall NM (2012) Understanding the effects of sand and dust accumulation on photovoltaic modules. Renew Energy 48:448–452
Adinoyi MJ, Syed AM (2013) Said. Effect of dust accumulation on the power outputs of solar photovoltaic modules. Renew Energy 60:633–636
Pages-Ramon A (2012) Caracterització del sector de la edificació des del punt de vista de les emissions de gasos d’efecte hivernacle. PhD thesis, UPC. [www.tdx.cat]
Acknowledgements
This paper is supported by the Spanish Ministry under project BIA2013-45597-R.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Coch, H., Pardal, C., Pagès-Ramon, A., Isalgué, A., Crespo, I. (2016). Better Than Optimum: Integrated. The Integration of Renewable Energy in Architecture as an Optimization Factor. In: Sayigh, A. (eds) Renewable Energy in the Service of Mankind Vol II. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18215-5_51
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18215-5_51
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-18214-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-18215-5
eBook Packages: EnergyEnergy (R0)