A bi-directional approach to building-integrated PV systems configuration

The configuration of local building-integrated photovoltaic (PV) installations can benefit from computational support. Especially in cases where a high degree of energy self-sufficiency is desired, it is important to optimally match the temporal profiles of the building's energy demand and the available solar radiation intensity. Typically, the building's demand profile is taken as given, which is treated as the basis for the sizing and configuration of the PV installation. The computational approach framework introduced in this paper is intended to offer additional functionalities. Specifically, it is conceived to facilitate a bi-directional approach to supporting the design and configuration of PV installations. This approach not only informs the configuration of PV system based on the building's demand profile, but also allows for the exploration of the consequences of the magnitude and temporal profile of the PV's energy supply potential for the values of relevant building design variables (e.g., building orientation, fraction of glazing in the envelope). The paper presents this computational approach and its functionality in terms of an illustrative case study.