Potential of Building Integrated Photovoltaics as Building Envelope Material in Europe and its Thermal Analysis using Phase Change Material

Energy decarbonization is one of the main strategies for containing and eliminating greenhouse gases (GHG). The energy sector is regarded as by far the main responsible for the GHG emissions emitted into the atmosphere. In particular, the sector of buildings and construction is also one of the major contributors to environmental degradation due to its high energy demand. Building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) is a promising technology that can reduce the overall energy consumption of buildings. The purpose of this article is to investigate the potential and contributions of BIPV systems in the European region. The review also aims at investigating the available literature on modeling and simulation techniques used for BIPV optimization. The reviewed modeling and simulation approach used in this paper includes the feasibility analysis of the BIPV system coupled with a heat source pump using TRYNSYS software, and comparative analysis of numerical models of four different BIPV system operational modes. The paper also discusses recent advancements and challenges that come across adopting this technology. Moreover, this paper presents how to manage the temperature rise and improve the thermal performance of BIPV systems using phase change materials. Based on this review we can argue, despite the high potential and available market, BIPV has not widely prevailed in the European region.