Passive and active performance assessment of building integrated hybrid solar photovoltaic/thermal collector prototypes: Energy, comfort, and economic analyses

Solar systems represent a viable way to reduce in a sustainable manner building energy consumptions. Nevertheless, two issues can be underlined: insufficient building surface areas for hosting typical stand-alone solar devices and related high initial costs. Consequently, growing research and industrial interest in cost-effective building-integrated solar systems is today observed. In this framework, this paper presents a comprehensive analysis of two low-cost building-integrated hybrid photovoltaic/thermal collector prototypes (water- and air-cooled, respectively). Both active and passive effects are investigated employing a purposely developed dynamic simulation tool, able to carry out complete system performance analyses. The capability of such the proposed innovative devices as well as of the presented in-house code is shown by a novel case study regarding a dwelling unit located into a multi-story residential building for three diverse European weather zones. Here, the investigated prototypes are modelled as integrated into the building South façade. For comparison purposes, a building integrated photovoltaic panel is also modelled as a reference case. Both active and passive effects are assessed. Relevant energy savings (up to 4236 kWhe/y), comfort outcomes (related hours variation range from −190 to +121), and economic results (paybacks are between 3 and 6 years) are achieved.