Passive and active performance assessment of building integrated hybrid solar photovoltaic/thermal collector prototypes: Energy, comfort, and economic analyses

Solar systems represent a viable way to reduce in a sustainable manner building energy consumptions. Nevertheless, two issues can be underlined: insufficient building surface areas for hosting typical standalone solar devices and related high initial costs. Consequently, growing research and industrial interest in cost-effective building-integrated solar systems is today observed. In this framework, this paper presents a comprehensive analysis of two low-cost building-integrated hybrid photovoltaic/thermal collector prototypes (waterand air-cooled, respectively). Both active and passive effects are investigated employing a purposely developed dynamic simulation tool, able to carry out complete system performance analyses. The capability of such the proposed innovative devices as well as of the presented inhouse code is shown by a novel case study regarding a dwelling unit located into a multi-story residential building for three diverse European weather zones. Here, the investigated prototypes are modelled as integrated into the building South facade. For comparison purposes, a building integrated photovoltaic panel is also modelled as a reference case. Both active and passive effects are assessed. Relevant energy savings (up to 4236 kWhe/y), comfort outcomes (related hours variation range from-190 to thorn 121), and economic results (paybacks are between 3 and 6 years) are achieved. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.