IEA PVPS Task 15 has released a detailed study assessing the capabilities of existing simulation tools for Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) energy simulation. This research, conducted over two years by a team from eight countries, aims to provide insights into the digitalization of BIPV performance simulation within complex building designs.
Study Overview
Integrating renewable energy sources, such as BIPV, into building envelopes is essential for reducing environmental impact and increasing the share of renewable energy in urban areas. However, the complexity of BIPV systems and the high variability of solar resources pose challenges to their efficient implementation and economic feasibility.
The study evaluates eight different simulation tools, encompassing both standalone PV tools and BIM-based plug-ins, against a real-world BIPV installation in Zhuhai, China. The tools were assessed for their ability to model/import building geometry, select weather data, set system layout and array, evaluate solar resources, estimate energy losses, and assess energy generation.
