Smart solar made simpler

Building-integrated photovoltaics, or BIPV, are building features such as roof tiles, cladding and windows that double as solar panels. They can be designed to cover a greater area of a building, generating solar energy from different angles. They are also customisable and visually striking.

However, BIPVs come with extra complexity in predicting performance and sourcing appropriate technology, which has made them a far less popular choice for new installations in Australia compared with conventional roof-mounted panels. But new technology devised by Australian scientists might be set to change this.

A team at RMIT has created a software tool — dubbed the BIPV Enabler — to help architects and engineers incorporate, source and cost BIPV in a building’s conceptual design phase. The software, funded by RMIT and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, is the first of its kind to be designed using Australian data.

The tool integrates product, regulation, technical, economic and construction data to create 3D models and detailed life cycle simulations tailored to each building’s planned location. It comes as the construction of Australia’s first office tower to be fully clad in solar panels was announced last year.

“This is the perfect solution for building designers and developers looking to select the right solar option to suit their design,” said project lead Associate Professor Rebecca Yang, from RMIT’s Solar Energy Application Group.

“We’re making integrated solar a more attractive option to developers, slicing the time it would normally take to research and implement incognito solar devices.

“This isn’t just for new buildings either. Those looking to retrofit integrated solar into existing buildings will benefit too,” added Yang, who is also the Director of the Australian PV Institute and driving the BIPV Alliance.

RMIT Associate Professor Rebecca Yang with student Aminath Samaha, who is using the BIPV Enabler during class.

Nic Bao, a lecturer in architecture at RMIT, said having a tool to effortlessly incorporate factors such as climate, building code and materials would make solar-savvy design easier.

“There are so many technical factors to consider when integrating BIPV into a design that it hadn’t been a popular choice, which was a missed opportunity,” he said.

“Making BIPV design more accessible promotes sustainable development of energy-efficient buildings, while providing opportunities for low-carbon architecture.”

Another challenge faced by designers and developers using integrated solar is choosing and sourcing materials. BIPV Enabler can assist with this through a photovoltaic product database where Australian suppliers can be easily identified.

Among the tool’s features are maps, a 3D shape library, solar visualisations, hourly weather data, and pricing information for materials and feed-in tariffs.

Yang said BIPV Enabler also works with computer-aided design programs and could be scaled and customised to incorporate other open-source datasets to suit changing needs.

“We hope to see more buildings capable of generating solar electricity, while maintaining good design standards — a win for the planet and aesthetics,” Yang said.

For more information about BIPV Enabler, contact the Solar Energy Application Group.

Image credit: iStock.com/zodebala