Performance comparison of building-integrated combined photovoltaic thermal solar collectors (BiPVT) with other building-integrated solar technologies

This paper evaluates the potential of unglazed building-integrated combined photovoltaic thermal solar collectors (BiPVT) for electricity production and domestic hot water heating application for multi-family apartment buildings. It compares the energy output and the cost savings of building-integrated photovoltaic (BiPV), solar thermal and BiPVT systems of different sizes but with the same initial investment cost. We find that the BiPVT system in cold climates can be competitive with traditional technologies only under certain conditions, such as favourable electricity to heat price ratio or a particular range of collector areas. A similar system in warmer climates, however, fares quite well against both solar thermal and BiPV technologies. This paper defines sets of conditions such as investment price ratios, utility rates and weather conditions required for the BiPVT system to function better than other similar building-integrated solar technologies.