Daylight Performance of Perimeter Office Façades utilizing Semi-transparent Photovoltaic Windows: A Simulation Study

This paper presents the potential impact of semi-transparent photovoltaic windows on the daylighting performance of commercial building façades. The performance of three façade configurations is examined, integrating Si-based, opaque spaced cells and transparent thin film technologies. Simulation results suggest that a semi-transparent photovoltaic module with visible effective transmittance of 30%, integrated as the outer glass layer of a double-glazed window, provides sufficient daylight within the perimeter zone throughout the year, with sDA300lx/50%=1 and DGI=5%. Moreover, a three-section façade configuration integrating Si-based spaced PV cells on the upper section and thin film PV on the middle section of the façade has the potential to maximize daylight utilization and the view to the outdoors.