Experimental and numerical study on the annual performance of semi-transparent photovoltaic glazing in different climate zones

Abstract

Semi-transparent photovoltaic (STPV) glazing can beautify the architectural appearance, generate power in-place. However, few researches study the climate adaptability of monocrystalline silicon STPV glazing. For the STPV glazing system, this paper develops a multi-physics model including the solar radiation, optical, electrical, and thermal models to analyze its overall performance. The model is validated by experiment. The performance of the STPV glazing system with different solar cell coverage ratios (R) in various climate zones of China (Guangzhou, Changsha, Kunming, Lhasa, and Beijing) is also studied. Among the five cities, the energy output of the STPV glazing system is proportional to the R value, and all follow approximately the same trend as the incident solar radiation. However, the geographic latitude has a greater impact on the electrical performance of the STPV glazing system than solar radiation. The thermal performance is primarily affected by the ambient temperature. The STPV glazing system performs well in the temperate area, with low cooling demand and high annual energy output. Compared with the traditional single clear glazing, the overall performance of the STPV glazing system is better, especially when the large solar cell coverage ratio. This paper provides a research basis for application in different climate zones.