Life-cycle energy analysis of building integrated photovoltaic systems (BiPVs) with heat recovery unit

✍ Scribed by R.H. Crawford; G.J. Treloar; R.J. Fuller; M. Bazilian

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2006
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 316 KB
• Volume: 10
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1364-0321
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2004.11.005

✦ Synopsis

Building integrated photovoltaic (BiPV) systems generate electricity, but also heat, which is typically wasted and also reduces the efficiency of generation. A heat recovery unit can be combined with a BiPV system to take advantage of this waste heat, thus providing cogeneration. Two different photovoltaic (PV) cell types were combined with a heat recovery unit and analysed in terms of their life-cycle energy consumption to determine the energy payback period. A net energy analysis of these PV systems has previously been performed, but recent improvements in the data used for this study allow for a more comprehensive assessment of the combined energy used throughout the entire life-cycle of these systems to be performed. Energy payback periods between 4 and 16.5 years were found, depending on the BiPV system. The energy embodied in PV systems is significant, emphasised here due to the innovative use of national average input-output (I-O) data to fill gaps in traditional life-cycle inventories, i.e. hybrid analysis. These findings provide an insight into the net energy savings that are possible with a well-designed and managed BiPV system.