Daylight Performance and Lighting Energy Savings of Amorphous and Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells in an Architecture Studio

Semi-transparent photovoltaic (PV) glass increased its popularity due to its energy and environmental advantages, which can generate electricity on-site and utilize natural daylight. They use thin-film solar cells to allow daylight to enter space and generate electrical energy. Crystalline and amorphous silicon (a-Si) solar cells are the most prominent in literature and industry due to their high efficiency and sufficient transparency. This study aims to assess the daylight and lighting energy-saving potential of thin-film crystalline and a-Si photovoltaic glass in an architecture studio in Izmir, Turkey. The simulation engine applied two types of solar cells on existing windows to evaluate the advantage of such glass for daylight performance and lighting energy consumption. Spatial Daylight Autonomy (sDA), a climate-based annual daylight performance metric, evaluates the daylight performance of the studio. Research findings note that such solar cells enhance the visual comfort of occupants and the daylight performance of the studio. In addition, crystalline silicon solar cells can cover the studio's whole lighting loads in the summer and fall seasons and balance them up to 66% and 23% in the spring and winter seasons, respectively. These have higher transmittance and peak power, thus; resulting in higher energy and daylight performance.