Lifetime performance of semi-transparent building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) glazing systems in the tropics

There have been much interest and many efforts to control global warming and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions throughout the world. Recently, the Republic of Korea has also increased its GHG reduction goal and searched for an implementation plan. In buildings, for example, there have been technology developments and deployment policies to reduce GHG emissions from a life cycle perspective, covering construction materials, building construction, use of buildings and waste disposal. In particular, Korea's Green Standard for Energy and Environmental Design is a certification of environmentally-friendly buildings for their energy saving and reduction of environmental pollution throughout their lives. In fact, the demand and adoption of the certification are rising every year. In construction materials and buildings, as a result, an environmentally-friendly aspect has become crucial. The importance of construction material and building development technologies that can reduce environmental load by diminishing GHG emissions in buildings has emerged. Moreover, there has been a rising necessity to verify the GHG reduction effects of buildings. To assess the reduction of carbon emissions in the buildings built with low-carbon construction technologies and materials, therefore, this study estimated life cycle carbon emissions in reference buildings in which general construction materials are used and in low-carbon buildings. For this, the carbon emissions and their reduction from construction materials (especially concrete) between conventional products and low-carbon materials were estimated, using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). After estimating carbon emissions from a building life cycle perspective, their reduction in low-carbon buildings compared to the reference buildings was reviewed. The results found that compared to conventional buildings, low-carbon buildings revealed a 25% decrease in carbon emissions in terms of the reduction of Life Cycle CO 2 (LCCO 2 ) per unit area. If diverse production technologies and sales routes are further developed for low-carbon construction materials, carbon emission reduction effects would considerably increase.

show abstract

“…Additionally, the renewable energy research, such as solar and biomass energy, were conducted [14][15][16][17].…”

Section: Previous Studies Regarding Environmental Impact Assessment Omentioning

confidence: 99%

A Study on Life Cycle CO2 Emissions of Low-Carbon Building in South Korea

Cho

Chae

2016

Sustainability

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Studies on semi-transparent photovoltaics have also been conducted [28,103,[111][112][113][114][115], likewise life cycle assessments (LCA) of photovoltaics [20,55,116,117]. Furthermore, note the study of screening-engineered field-effect solar cells by Regan et al [118].…”

Section: Various Aspectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Building Integrated Photovoltaics: A Concise Description of the Current State of the Art and Possible Research Pathways

Jelle

2015

Energies

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:Building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) offer an aesthetical, economical and technical solution to integrate solar cells harvesting solar radiation to produce electricity within the climate envelopes of buildings. Photovoltaic (PV) cells may be mounted above or onto the existing or traditional roofing or wall systems. However, BIPV systems replace the outer building envelope skin, i.e., the climate screen, hence serving simultanously as both a climate screen and a power source generating electricity. Thus, BIPV may provide savings in materials and labor, in addition to reducing the electricity costs. Hence, for the BIPV products, in addition to specific requirements put on the solar cell technology, it is of major importance to have satisfactory or strict requirements of rain tightness and durability, where building physical issues like e.g., heat and moisture transport in the building envelope also have to be considered and accounted for. This work, from both a technological and scientific point of view, summarizes briefly the current state-of-the-art of BIPV, including both BIPV foil, tiles, modules and solar cell glazing products, and addresses possible research pathways for BIPV in the years to come.

show abstract

“…Moreover, BIPV systems can reduce the space, material and infrastructure costs of the building, which may lead the trend for future ZEB designs. Ng and Mithraratne [73] numerically studied the performance of commercially available semi-transparent BIPV modules for window applications in Singapore. Based on their study, the energy payback time was no more than 2 years, whereas the energy return could be as high as 35 times the initial cost.…”

Section: Solar Energy and Wind Energymentioning

confidence: 99%