Comprehensive 4E analysis of a semi-transparent photovoltaic system: A case study approach

Em sistemas fotovoltaicos semitransparentes (STPV), o calor acumulado na parte posterior dos painéis pode ser transmitido para a zona térmica, e contribuir para o aquecimento do ambiente. Ele pode ainda provocar o aumento da temperatura da célula fotovoltaica (FV), o que reduz a eficiência do sistema. Este artigo tem como objetivo desenvolver, por meio do software EnergyPlus, um novo método de modelagem das propriedades térmicas de um STPV, ao avaliar a influência do calor gerado pelo sistema FV na temperatura interna do ambiente simulado e na eficiência do próprio sistema. O método incluiu simulações computacionais, em que foram propostos STPV integrados a diferentes configurações de esquadrias: vidros simples e duplos; espessuras diferentes para a camada de ar e vidros com propriedades térmicas especiais. Dispositivos de sombreamento desempenham o papel do material fotovoltaico para representar suas propriedades térmicas. As simulações mostraram que os STPV influenciam as condições térmicas da zona, tanto pelo acréscimo na temperatura média (3,3°C), quanto pelo aumento da temperatura superficial das janelas (17,4°C). As diferenças nos modelos de esquadrias foram mais significativas nas questões térmicas do que nas variações de eficiência do FV, com confirmação do caso mais usado na literatura como caso de melhor desempenho, o que reforça a confiança no método proposto.

This chapter shows the potential of the architectural integration of semi-transparent photovoltaic (STPV) systems for improving the energy efficiency of buildings. The research presented focuses on developing a methodology able to quantify the building energy demand reduction provided by these novel constructive solutions. At the same time, the design parameters of the STPV solution are analyzed to establish which of them have the greatest impact on the global energy balance of the building, and therefore which have to be carefully defined in order to optimize the building operation. In summary, this work contributes to the understanding of the interaction between STPV systems and buildings, providing both components manufacturers and construction technicians, valuable information on the energy-saving potential of these new construction systems and defining the appropriate design parameters to achieve efficient solutions in both new and retrofitting projects.

Effective energy management is crucial in greenhouse farming to ensure efficient operations and optimal crop growth. This study investigates the energy autonomy—defined as the ratio of on-site energy generation to the total energy demand—of greenhouses equipped with semi-transparent photovoltaic (STPV) systems under two scenarios: with and without a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). STPV systems are beneficial because they generate energy while still allowing enough light to pass through for healthy plant development. Seasonal variations in energy autonomy during summer and winter were analyzed. Results show that incorporating BESS significantly reduces reliance on grid electricity, with energy autonomy improving from 43.43% to 24.17% in summer and 81.36% to 69.45% in winter. The system’s performance was highly sensitive to the transmittance rate of STPV panels and the minimum Daily Light Integral (DLI) required for crops. These findings highlight the potential of BESS to enhance energy independence and promote sustainable agricultural practices. The study provides insights into optimizing renewable energy systems in greenhouses, emphasizing practical implications for scalability and economic feasibility.

Artificial illumination and heating constitute the majority of the building’s energy usage. Buildings account for 40% of worldwide energy use. Building‐integrated concentrated photovoltaic systems represent an innovative technology. Concentrated sunlight enhances the quantity of solar radiation that reaches photovoltaic cells. This project involves the design and fabrication of a distinctive stepped optiwave concentrating system that employs semitransparent photovoltaic (STPV) modules. Two separate modules have been created to evaluate the effectiveness of the optiwave STPV and STPV systems. Evaluations and comparisons of electrical and thermal performance are available for both the optiwave photovoltaic (OPV) system and the STPV module. The trials are conducted in the Coimbatore Region of Tamil Nadu, India, situated at 11.0168° north latitude and 76.9558° east longitude. Output power and electrical efficiency are metrics of the electrical performance of OPV and STPV. The highest electrical efficiency of the OPV and STPV modules is 11.5%, with the STPV module slightly exceeding it at 10.5%. Specific reports indicate that the OPV system produces 10.5% greater revenue than the STPV system. This culminates in an assessment of the ecological expenses and the amortisation period for embodied energy. OPVs possess the potential for space applications necessitating maximal energy per unit area. Research on orbital propulsion vectoring systems for satellites and space stations may intensify as space exploration and satellite deployment proliferate.

Enhanced power generation through cooling a semi-transparent PV power plant with a solar chimney

As cities in hot climate regions face escalating challenges from rapid urbanization and climate change,there is a pressing need for innovative strategies that reduce building energy demands while ensuring occupantcomfort and environmental quality. Semi-transparent photovoltaic (STPV) windows present a promising solution byenabling on-site renewable energy generation through building façades, without compromising daylight access orarchitectural integrity. This study proposes a practical framework for integrating STPV technologies to support urbansustainability in hot climates, based on a multi-dimensional analysis of energy performance, thermal behaviour, andvisual comfort under intense solar exposure. Critical design and operational challenges—such as overheating, glare,and dust accumulation—are examined to inform climate-responsive integration strategies. Insights from theMsheireb Smart City case study in Qatar illustrate how mixed-use developments can leverage STPV technologies toenhance energy efficiency, align with climate adaptation goals, and maintain cohesive architectural aesthetics.Findings suggest that STPV systems have the potential to reduce cooling loads by up to 25% and provide on-siteelectricity generation that could meet 10–20% of a building’s energy needs, depending on factors such as glazingtype, orientation, and integration method. This study also highlights the potential of STPV to contribute to policyrecommendations on sustainable energy practices in hot climates. By positioning STPV systems at the intersectionof renewable energy innovation and urban climate resilience, this research offers actionable guidance for advancingsustainability in hot-climate cities through integrated building design, energy strategy, and urban planning.

Assessment of cost-competitiveness of semi-transparent photovoltaic systems

Solar drying is an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly method for dehydrating agricultural and medicinal products; however, its performance is strongly affected by fluctuating climatic conditions and nonlinear heat and mass transfer processes. In cabinet-type solar dryers, maintaining the drying air temperature and relative humidity within optimal ranges is particularly critical for medicinal plants such as Plantago major leaves, which are sensitive to overheating and non-uniform drying. In this study, a Mamdani-type fuzzy logic-based intelligent control system is developed and experimentally validated for a cabinet solar dryer operating under real summer climatic conditions in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The proposed controller regulates fan speed using drying air temperature and relative humidity as inputs. To evaluate its effectiveness, the fuzzy logic controller is benchmarked against a conventionally tuned Proportional–Integral–Derivative (PID) controller under identical operating and climatic conditions. A coupled thermodynamic–hygrometric dynamic model of the drying process is implemented in MATLAB/Simulink (R2024a) to support controller design and analysis. Experimental results demonstrate that the fuzzy logic controller maintains the drying air temperature within the optimal range of 45–50 °C despite significant fluctuations in solar irradiance (650–900 W/m2), whereas the PID-controlled system exhibits noticeable overshoot and oscillations. Compared with PID control, the fuzzy-controlled dryer achieves a smoother reduction in relative humidity, a reduction of approximately 22% in total drying time for the same final moisture content (8–10% wet basis), and an 18% decrease in auxiliary electrical energy consumption. In addition, tray-wise moisture measurements indicate improved drying uniformity under fuzzy control, with moisture variation remaining within ±4%. Overall, the results confirm that fuzzy-logic-based intelligent control provides a robust and energy-efficient solution for cabinet solar dryers operating under hot continental climatic conditions, offering clear advantages over conventional PID control in terms of stability, drying performance, and uniformity.

Over the last decade, pavement instrumentation has become an important tool for monitoring the performance of pavement structures and materials under real climatic and traffic conditions. Stress, strain transducers, loop profilers, temperature, and moisture sensors could be reasonably used for sophisticated analysis of pavement performance. Commonly, such research projects involve only few pavement structures under accelerated loading tests. The unique experimental road section was constructed in 2007 in Lithuania. It consists of 27 different flexible pavement structures and all necessary electronic sensors. This road is affected by real climatic conditions and high‐intensity heavy vehicle traffic. The aim of such research is to continuously monitor performance of different pavement structures and to elaborate on the most suitable and economically effective pavement structures.

This study investigates the climatic sensitivity and long-term performance stability of a semi-transparent photovoltaic (STPV) system operating in a tropical coastal region of Indonesia. Using a decade of daily meteorological data (2012-2022), we developed a multivariate regression-based environmental modelling approach to evaluate the influence of key climatic variables on performance ratio (PR) and energy yield. Three modelling structures were considered, including a full-variable model, a simplified model based on global tilted irradiance (GTI) and ambient temperature, and a constant PR benchmark. The results indicate that GTI and temperature are the dominant climatic drivers, accounting for most of the meaningful variability in PR. The simplified GTI-temperature model achieved predictive performance comparable to the full model, suggesting that a parsimonious formulation can retain most of the explanatory power while reducing data requirements. The estimated PR values ranged between 0.78 and 0.80, consistent with reported values for tropical photovoltaic systems. Despite observable seasonal and interannual climatic variability, the system exhibited relatively stable performance over the study period, with no clear monotonic decline in energy yield. These findings highlight the applicability of simplified environmental models for performance assessment and planning in data-scarce tropical coastal regions.

In a previous work the warranty time of commercial lattice-matched GaInP/Ga(In)As/Ge triple junction concentrator solar cells was evaluated under real climatic conditions. The solar cells had a size of 7x7 mm operating with an efficiency of 35% at 820×. For these particular solar cells the warranty time for three locations, Golden (CO-USA), Madrid (Spain), and Tucson AZUSA), exhibits a 4 to 1 ratio, which affects the LCOE (Levelized Cost of Electricity) in an important way. In this work, we go a step further evaluating the influence of concentration and solar cell size on the warranty for a specific thermal design.

Experimental comparisons on optical and thermal performance between aerogel glazed skylight and double glazed skylight under real climate condition

The need for a clean and affordable energy supply is a major challenge of the current century. The tough shift toward a sustainable energy mix becomes even more problematic when facing realities that lack infrastructures and financing, such as small islands. Energy modeling and planning is crucial at this early stage of the ecological transition. For this reason, this article aims to improve an established long-run energy model framework, known as “OSeMOSYS,” with an add-on tool able to estimate different types of Levelized Cost Of Electricity (LCOE): a real and theoretical LCOE of each technology and a real and theoretical system LCOE. This tool fills a gap in most modeling frameworks characterized by a lack of information when evaluating energy costs and aims at guiding policymakers to the most appropriate solution. The model is then used to predict future energy scenarios for the island of San Pietro, in Sardinia, which was chosen as a case study. Four energy scenarios with a time horizon from 2020 to 2050—the Business-As-Usual (BAU) scenario, the Current Policy Projection (CPP) scenario, the Sustainable Growth (SG) scenario, and the Self-Sufficient-Renewable (SSR) scenario—are explored and ranked according to the efforts made in them to achieve an energy transition. Results demonstrates the validity of the tool, showing that, in the long run, the average LCOE of the system benefits from the installation of RES plants, passing from 49.1 €/MWh in 2050 in the BAU scenario to 48.8 €/MWh in the ambitious SG scenario. On the other hand, achieving carbon neutrality and the island’s energy independence brings the LCOE to 531.5 €/MWh, questioning the convenience of large storage infrastructures in San Pietro and opening up future work on the exploration of different storage systems.

For hygrothermal simulations it is often advised to homogenize masonry wall constructions into a 1D solid brick construction. This saves computational time, but it may lead to an underestimation of moisture related risks. Some literature states that the impact of mortar is negligible, but no specific attention was paid to historic masonries, which often have high absorptive mortars (e.g. lime) and/or bricks. Hence, this study investigates the impact of the interface resistance between brick and mortar, in relation to the properties of the adjacent materials during absorption as well as under real climate conditions. As expected the impact of interface resistances is more pronounced during an absorption test compared to under real climate conditions. Nevertheless, due to the interface resistance, increased frost risks do arise in a number of cases subjected to real climate conditions. The results are found to be highly dependent of the climate, the sequence of rain and frost events, and the properties of the adjacent materials. In conclusion, one can state that there can be an increased risk of frost damage due to the effect of interface resistances in historic masonries. However, deriving generic guidelines on the impact of these effects remains a challenge due to a high dependency on climate and material parameters.

For hygrothermal simulations it is often advised to homogenize masonry wall constructions into a 1D solid brick construction. This saves computational time, but it may lead to an underestimation of moisture related risks. Some literature states that the impact of mortar is negligible, but no specific attention was paid to historic masonries, which often have high absorptive mortars (e.g. lime) and/or bricks. Hence, this study investigates the impact of the interface resistance between brick and mortar, in relation to the properties of the adjacent materials during absorption as well as under real climate conditions. As expected the impact of interface resistances is more pronounced during an absorption test compared to under real climate conditions. Nevertheless, due to the interface resistance, increased frost risks do arise in a number of cases subjected to real climate conditions. The results are found to be highly dependent of the climate, the sequence of rain and frost events, and the properties of the adjacent materials. In conclusion, one can state that there can be an increased risk of frost damage due to the effect of interface resistances in historic masonries. However, deriving generic guidelines on the impact of these effects remains a challenge due to a high dependency on climate and material parameters.