Techno-Economic Analysis of Building Integrated Photovoltaics Electrical Installations

Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) is gaining momentum as a choice for renewable energy generation in urban areas. Especially for high rise buildings with limited roof surface, façade BIPV proves to be an interesting option. In literature, a strong research focus is found on the aesthetic aspects of BIPV façades and new PV materials. The electrical installation such as the cabling and the converter are often overlooked. This paper focuses on the economic aspects of the electrical installation. A BIPV Economic Analysis Tool has been developed that allows for quick evaluation of the return on investment when BIPV is considered. Furthermore, two case studies have been performed to highlight the differences between string inverters, micro inverters and parallel power optimizers. It is shown that using DC/DC parallel power optimizers in combination with a DC grid can result in a better overall performance. Furthermore, the case of micro inverters becomes increasingly interesting for buildings that experience a significant amount of shading due to nearby objects.