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Title: Energy analysis of facade-integrated photovoltaic systems applied to UAE commercial buildings

Abstract

Developments in the design and manufacture of photovoltaic cells have recently been a growing concern in the UAE. At present, the embodied energy pay-back time (EPBT) is the criterion used for comparing the viability of such technology against other forms. However, the impact of PV technology on the thermal performance of buildings is not considered at the time of EPBT estimation. If additional energy savings gained over the PV system life are also included, the total EPBT could be shorter. This paper explores the variation of the total energy of building integrated photovoltaic systems (BiPV) as a wall cladding system applied to the UAE commercial sector and shows that the ratio between PV output and saving in energy due to PV panels is within the range of 1:3-1:4. The result indicates that for the southern and western facades in the UAE, the embodied energy pay-back time for photovoltaic system is within the range of 12-13 years. When reductions in operational energy are considered, the pay-back time is reduced to 3.0-3.2 years. This study comes to the conclusion that the reduction in operational energy due to PV panels represents an important factor in the estimation of EPBT. (author)

Authors:
 [1]
  1. Architectural Engineering Department, UAE University, Al-ain (United Arab Emirates)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
21396176
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Solar Energy
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 84; Journal Issue: 12; Other Information: Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved; Journal ID: ISSN 0038-092X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
14 SOLAR ENERGY; COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS; SOLAR ARCHITECTURE; PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS; ENERGY ANALYSIS; PANELS; WALLS; PAYBACK PERIOD; DESIGN; PERFORMANCE; PRODUCTION; VARIATIONS; UNITED ARAB EMIRATES; Embodied energy; Wall cladding systems

Citation Formats

Radhi, Hassan. Energy analysis of facade-integrated photovoltaic systems applied to UAE commercial buildings. United States: N. p., 2010. Web. doi:10.1016/J.SOLENER.2010.10.002.
Radhi, Hassan. Energy analysis of facade-integrated photovoltaic systems applied to UAE commercial buildings. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SOLENER.2010.10.002
Radhi, Hassan. 2010. "Energy analysis of facade-integrated photovoltaic systems applied to UAE commercial buildings". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SOLENER.2010.10.002.
@article{osti_21396176,
title = {Energy analysis of facade-integrated photovoltaic systems applied to UAE commercial buildings},
author = {Radhi, Hassan},
abstractNote = {Developments in the design and manufacture of photovoltaic cells have recently been a growing concern in the UAE. At present, the embodied energy pay-back time (EPBT) is the criterion used for comparing the viability of such technology against other forms. However, the impact of PV technology on the thermal performance of buildings is not considered at the time of EPBT estimation. If additional energy savings gained over the PV system life are also included, the total EPBT could be shorter. This paper explores the variation of the total energy of building integrated photovoltaic systems (BiPV) as a wall cladding system applied to the UAE commercial sector and shows that the ratio between PV output and saving in energy due to PV panels is within the range of 1:3-1:4. The result indicates that for the southern and western facades in the UAE, the embodied energy pay-back time for photovoltaic system is within the range of 12-13 years. When reductions in operational energy are considered, the pay-back time is reduced to 3.0-3.2 years. This study comes to the conclusion that the reduction in operational energy due to PV panels represents an important factor in the estimation of EPBT. (author)},
doi = {10.1016/J.SOLENER.2010.10.002},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/21396176}, journal = {Solar Energy},
issn = {0038-092X},
number = 12,
volume = 84,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Dec 15 00:00:00 EST 2010},
month = {Wed Dec 15 00:00:00 EST 2010}
}