Application of Photovoltaic Panels for High Rise Buildings
Summary Statement of Proposed Project:
This report will determine the most efficient way to place photovoltaic (PV) panels on the facades of high rise buildings. Also, it will increase understanding and awareness of the cost and benefits of installing PV panels.
Purpose:
With energy costs increasing and with environmental awareness becoming more prevalent there is starting to become a push to increase efficiency and decrease energy consumption. Many products are starting to come onto the market to address these issues although much of what has come out is not understood very well and the environmental benefits and economical costs are not really known. This report will look into the costs and benefits of replacing the spandrel glass between levels on high rise buildings with PV panels as a way of increasing efficiency and decreasing dependence on energy generated in less environmentally friendly ways.
Goals & Objectives:
- To produce a complete and accurate report proving the effectiveness of PV panels for high rise applications.
- To involve local manufacturers.
- To share ideas and information through the report and other means of dissemination.
- To improve communication, problem solving, and researching skills.
Methodology & Analytical Approach:
PV panels will be researched to determine exactly how they work and differentiate between different types of panels to determine what kind of panel will work the best for this application. Different orientations for the panels will be looked at in both the horizontal and vertical directions to determine optimum orientations and to determine at what orientations the panels become ineffective. To do this a sun study will be performed and weather trends will be reviewed to determined how much sun the panels will be subjected to and what angles will get more sunlight.
A conceptual design of a building will be created to assist in the illustration of the solar panel application. The conceptual design will be used to perform shadow studies as well as to determine the orientation mentioned earlier and also to show aesthetics of using the panels.
To determine the economics of this project, local curtain wall and PV panel manufacturers will be contacted to assess the supply and install difference between the two materials. Both types of manufacturers will be consulted to determine suitable mounting techniques. These techniques will be reviewed and necessary modifications will be made where required to give the best possible mounting solution.
The annual energy production of the PV panels will be analyzed and the monetary value of this energy will be determined. With this information and the cost difference of installing the PV panels, the return period of the initial investment will be calculated taking into account interest and inflation rates.
Related Information:
In most cases that PV panels are used, the entire supply and installation cost is additional to the project cost. This makes the return of the initial capital cost longer; therefore, the economic feasibility is less appealing. By removing one material and replacing it with another, the initial capital cost is offset. If the cost difference is relatively minor, the economic feasibility will be higher. This could change the industry in that we may be able to incorporate solar panels in high rise applications with an acceptable rate of return. Since there are local manufacturers of curtain wall systems and photovoltaic panels it is even more environmentally beneficial.
Relative case studies such as The Solaire (National Resource Defense Council, 2003) in Battery Park, NYC illustrate how the proposed application of PV panels compares to current applications. The different applications will be compared and contrasted to determine the best possible method.
Dissemination of work:
The outcomes of this report will be shared to the public through different means including:
PV panels will be researched to determine exactly how they work and differentiate between different types of panels to determine what kind of panel will work the best for this application. Different orientations for the panels will be looked at in both the horizontal and vertical directions to determine optimum orientations and to determine at what orientations the panels become ineffective. To do this a sun study will be performed and weather trends will be reviewed to determined how much sun the panels will be subjected to and what angles will get more sunlight.
A conceptual design of a building will be created to assist in the illustration of the solar panel application. The conceptual design will be used to perform shadow studies as well as to determine the orientation mentioned earlier and also to show aesthetics of using the panels.
To determine the economics of this project, local curtain wall and PV panel manufacturers will be contacted to assess the supply and install difference between the two materials. Both types of manufacturers will be consulted to determine suitable mounting techniques. These techniques will be reviewed and necessary modifications will be made where required to give the best possible mounting solution.
The annual energy production of the PV panels will be analyzed and the monetary value of this energy will be determined. With this information and the cost difference of installing the PV panels, the return period of the initial investment will be calculated taking into account interest and inflation rates.
Related Information:
In most cases that PV panels are used, the entire supply and installation cost is additional to the project cost. This makes the return of the initial capital cost longer; therefore, the economic feasibility is less appealing. By removing one material and replacing it with another, the initial capital cost is offset. If the cost difference is relatively minor, the economic feasibility will be higher. This could change the industry in that we may be able to incorporate solar panels in high rise applications with an acceptable rate of return. Since there are local manufacturers of curtain wall systems and photovoltaic panels it is even more environmentally beneficial.
Relative case studies such as The Solaire (National Resource Defense Council, 2003) in Battery Park, NYC illustrate how the proposed application of PV panels compares to current applications. The different applications will be compared and contrasted to determine the best possible method.
Dissemination of work:
The outcomes of this report will be shared to the public through different means including:
- a continually updated online blog
- presentation at the TRU annual undergraduate student research conference
- potential publication of findings into academic journals
- presentations at other relevant conferences
- presentations to the industry
- possible incorporation into a real project: Saint Paul’s Cathedral, Kamloops BC.
Contribution of the Project to my Academic Goals and Objectives:
As there is an increasing demand for smaller building footprints, the height of buildings is getting to be increasingly taller. Because of the smaller footprint size, there is less space available on the roof area to place photovoltaic panels; however, I noticed that there was a large amount of space on the sides. I wanted to try to find a good way to maximize the use of PV panels by making use of the available wall space.
In implementing the project, my role will be to research existing data, and relative case studies, create my own conceptual designs and generate wall details. I will need to contact professionals in the industry to get informed opinions. Ultimately, I will draw my own conclusions and make recommendations for the best way to incorporate solar energy in high rise buildings.
My personal academic objective is to graduate from the Architectural and Engineering Technology program at Thompson Rivers University, and obtain a job in the field of Architectural Design. This would help me to achieve my goal in that it will help me showcase my skills in researching, and also I will be gaining valuable knowledge relevant to the future of green building design.
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