Large-scale building-integrated photovoltaics installation on building facades: Hourly resolution analysis using commercial building stock in Tokyo, Japan

The installation of photovoltaic (PV) modules is one of the most effective measures for decarbonizing urban building stock. The considerable potential of the process has been demonstrated using building-integrated PV (BIPV) modules. Earlier studies have provided significant knowledge about the PV potential of buildings, but a detailed investigation of the large-scale installation of BIPV modules on building facades has not been under-taken. In the present study, a model for estimating the hourly PV potential of building surfaces on a regional scale was developed and applied to commercial building stock in Tokyo, Japan. Analytical results showed that the generated PV power would be capable of satisfying 15%-48% of the annual electricity demand of the building stock in 2050, based on the extent to which the PV potential of building surfaces, especially facades, was exploited. This demonstrates the usefulness of BIPV for achieving a decarbonized society. Additionally, hourly estimation results showed that, if a higher economic efficiency is pursued, the use of large-scale installation of BIPV together with rooftop-mounted PV could increase the PV power generation without altering the hourly PV power fluctuation. However, electricity demand and generation analyses revealed the negative impacts of the larger-scale BIPV installation on the power system: The reduction in asset utilization and the increase in the need for flexibility. The findings of this study promise to be useful to policymakers in formulating guidelines for the use of BIPV modules.

Automated summary

The installation of building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) modules on building facades has great potential for decarbonizing urban building stock. A model was developed to estimate the hourly PV potential of building surfaces on a regional scale, and it was found that BIPV could satisfy 15%-48% of the annual electricity demand of commercial building stock in Tokyo by 2050. However, the larger-scale installation of BIPV may have negative impacts on the power system, including reduced asset utilization and increased flexibility needs.