Shading analysis for rooftop BIPV embedded in a high-density environment: A case study in Singapore

• Shadings and module temperature are directly related to PV system performance.
• Lower shading percentages and module temperatures presented higher yield and PRs.
• PV systems with non-optimal azimuthal deviations and tilts can still perform well.
• Shading analysis during the design phase can highly improve PV systems performance.

Challenges such as partial shading and non-optimal tilt and azimuthal deviations are common in building-integrated photovoltaic systems (BIPV). Therefore, it is important to be aware of the consequences on systems performance metrics, namely annual specific yield and performance ratio for these specialised applications. This paper describes detailed analyses of shading effects, irradiation resource availability and module temperature on the performance metrics of individual subsystems of a rooftop BIPV installation in a high-rise building embedded in a high-density environment in Singapore. The study indicates that a shading analysis during the design phase can highly improve PV systems performance by giving careful consideration about shaded modules to optimise the PV module string design.