Simulation of various PV façades
How do various façades differ in terms of their energy behaviour? What effects do different (photovoltaic) façades have on a building’s heating and cooling requirement? What power yields can be expected?
In order to answer these questions, four types of façade were defined:
natural stone façade with which all other types of façade are compared in terms of energy
polycrystalline modules as part of the building envelope
- Sunshading façade PV module
as sunshade element
Figure 1: Natural stone façade, Mannheim
Source: mannheim_2009
Figure 2: PV façade with green solar cells, Tübingen gym
Source: Björn Appel
Figure 3: PV façade Tübingen, detail
Source: Björn Appel
For these façade types, simulations were carried out for the following building parameters:
- Cooling energy demand How much energy (current) is required to limit room temperature of the building to a maximum of 26 °C during the hot months?
- Heat demand The amount of heating energy required to achieve a setpoint indoor temperature of 22 °C.
- Energy yield Different energy yields of the different types of façade depending on the inclination of the modules, module technology, and the chosen transparency.
- Payback A comparison of investment costs, energy costs and yields of the defined façade types.
