Photovoltaic integrated shading devices (PVSDs): A review

Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs) have come to be regarded as a promising technology that reduces the life-cycle costs of building construction and generates energy simultaneously. In this regard, photovoltaic integrated shading devices (PVSDs) constitute an important part of BIPVs and play a role in generating power by transforming the unwanted radiation and in reducing cooling energy consumption. Despite the expansion of the literature in recent years (2016-2017), a comprehensive review exploring the studies on PVSD is still lacking. To fill this research gap, a systematic review of the literature on PVSD was conducted. The current body of knowledge on PVSD is summarized, including aspects such as PVSD types, PV material, orientations, tilt angles, and research approaches. Several noteworthy conclusions are drawn based on the quantitative analysis of 43 journal papers on PVSD. The majority of the studies are South Korea-based (35.9%), followed by China, Greece, and Switzerland. In addition, the focus of the literature has been on the technical approach (76.5%), office building (73.3%), and equator-facing orientation (57.1%). Only 15 types of PVSD have hitherto been studied, with the emphasis on two types: the inclined single panel and horizontal louvres between double layers. Moreover, 21 architectural cases of PVSD in practice are presented and two obstacles to PVSD development are discussed. Suggestions for future study are made, including intensifying the focus on PVSD in countries with the significant solar source, such as Singapore and Australia; diversifying the exploration of multiple PVSD types (instead of only two types); and emphasizing multi-objective optimization studies on PVSD. The review can serve as a quick reference for future research and may find utility in providing an overview of PVSD to both industry practitioners and academicians.