Assessment of Solar PV Potential on Facades: Toward Zero-Energy Buildings

Solar photovoltaic (PV) energy is the most commonly used renewable energy source in urban areas. During the last decade, solar cell manufacturing costs have decreased significantly, alongside becoming more efficient. Furthermore, Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) provide a new opportunity for utilising solar energy via facades. Previous studies were unable to model the facades accurately, thus limiting assessments of the solar energy potential. This study aims to address this issue by assessing the feasibility of using BIPV on facades with the aid of 3D models. The results suggest that BIPV could play a critical role for zero-energy buildings in the near future.