U.S. guidelines for the economic analysis of building-integrated photovoltaic power systems

Technical Report · Mon Feb 28 00:00:00 EST 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/752395· OSTI ID:752395

Eiffert, P

Traditionally, electrical service for buildings has been provided by one pre-determined supplier, the utility company. An unexpected side effect of the privatization and deregulation of the electricity industry, initiated during the late 1980s and early 1990s, is the opportunity for consumers to purchase electricity from a variety of energy service companies or to generate electricity themselves. Concurrently, the US Department of Energy, national energy laboratories, universities, and photovoltaic (PV) manufacturers have technically evaluated, tested, and demonstrated building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) to be a viable technology. Electricity industry restructuring and successful PV research and development raise a dilemma for building owners: is it worth the investment and effort to engage in the process of generating electricity with photovoltaics for individual buildings? A BIPV power system operates as a multifunctional building construction material; it generates energy as well as serves as part of the building envelope. The objective of the US Guidelines for the Economic Assessment of Building-Integrated Photovoltaic Power Systems is to identify the economic parameters of BIPV systems. Identifying these parameters will enable the decision-makers to appraise the economic feasibility and implications of investments in such building systems.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Department of Energy (US)
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-99GO10337
• OSTI ID: 752395
• Report Number(s): NREL/TP--710-25266
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
BIPV
BUILDING-INTEGRATED PHOTOVOLTAIC
BUILDINGS
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
ECONOMIC GUIDELINES
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FEDERAL ENERGY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
FEMP
NATIONAL CENTER FOR PHOTOVOLTAICS
NCPV
PHOTOVOLTAIC
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SUPPLIES
POWER SYSTEMS
PV
RECOMMENDATIONS
ROOFS