Improving the functional performance of outdoor spaces in hot arid region using photovoltaics systems

There is a rapid increasing in the deployment of photovoltaic but most of its installations are on building facades and roofs. Therefore, to achieve the needed large-scale integration of photovoltaic into our energy system will require large-scale deployment beyond the building scale, which will become a part of our landscape. This paper seeks to improve the functional performance of outdoor spaces through the potential of power generation by photovoltaic in outdoor spaces, in hot regions, and improving the thermal comfort. Site measurements, survey, interviews, a 3D model of a shading device using DesignBuilder software, and Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were developed as part of the study. A comparison was made between the obtained measurements and simulation outputs for validation. The methodology is demonstrated for a case-study in Borg El Arab New City, Alexandria, Egypt. The simulation shows that the installation of PV, on the rooftop and the South-West elevation, enhanced the thermal comfort, and generated three and half times the annual consumed power for lighting, laptop charging units, and Wi-Fi hotspot. The results show that the installations of photovoltaic on shading device will promote the function of outdoor spaces, concerning the technological devices, and will suffice the need for energy for different outdoor needs.