Study on the Impact of Design Parameters of Photovoltaic Combined Vacuum Glazing (PVCVG) on the Energy Consumption of Buildings in Lhasa

The synergistic active-passive utilization of solar energy in buildings plays an important role in achieving nearly zero-energy buildings. Building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) is a crucial initiative to reduce heating energy consumption, especially in cold climate zones with abundant solar radiation. However, few studies have examined the impact of design parameters of photovoltaic combined vacuum glazing (PVCVG) on building energy efficiency in Lhasa. This study assessed the energy performance of several typical windows and PVCVG with various Window-to-Wall Ratio (WWR) design conditions and investigated how the WWR and orientation of PVCVG influence energy consumption using DesignBuilder7.0 software. The findings indicate that PVCVG exhibits great energy-saving potential in Lhasa, with both orientation and WWR of PVCVG substantially affecting energy consumption. Specifically, when the south-facing WWR exceeds 40%, the energy generated by the three kinds of PV windows can meet the building’s requirements. The optimal orientation for PVCVG is southward, followed by east and west orientations. PVCVG reaches optimal energy satisfaction when the south WWR is 85%. This study is expected to provide useful information for improving energy use efficiency in cold climate zones with abundant solar radiation and promoting sustainable building development.

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