PHOTOVOLTAIC-INTEGRATED BUILDING FACADES

Photovoltaic (PV) cells, when integrated within a building facade, off er the possibility of generating electric power and heat for local use or export. This paper reports on a project to investigate the practic al operational efficiencies that might be delivered from such facades. The results from laboratory experiments and computer simulations are presented: the former were used to develop an empirical relationship b etween cell temperature and power output; the latter were undertaken t o assess operational efficiencies under a range of climate conditions representative of the UK.