Page 13 - ZEB Final Report 2009-2017

Providing Renewable Electricity On-Site | 13

Clara Good
Solar Energy and Low Energy Buildings (PhD ZEB)
UiT The Arctic University of Norway

The production of solar cells is energy-intensive.

ZEBs researchers have focused on how to make them more

effective while the environmental impact is minimised.

In a zero energy building, the energy Challenges related to building
demand is balanced by renewable energy integration of PV systems include shading
generated on or near the building. A from the surroundings or the building,
building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) snow covering, and non-optimal module
system provides renewable electricity orientations. It is therefore important
while replacing other building materials. that PV systems are included in the
The benefits as well as the challenges of building design from the start, so that
BIPV systems have been addressed in the e.g. the building orientation and roof tilt
ZEB Centre. can be optimised.
Photovoltaic (PV) systems have Another issue in northern regions
several characteristics that make them is the temporal mismatch between solar FIGURE 1. Installation of a BIPV system
very suitable for use in buildings: they are availability and the energy demand of on ZEB Living Lab on the NTNU campus
quiet, have no moving parts, and require the building. To address this issue, PV Gløshaugen in Trondheim.
no fuels to operate. Once installed, a PV systems can be combined with other
system can provide renewable electricity energy sources, such as heat pumps.
for at least 25 years. Batteries can also be used to store the
In a BIPV system, the PV modules solar electricity between periods of high
are an integrated part of the building availability and periods of high demand.
envelope and can replace other building The production of PV modules
components, such as roofing materials. In is energy-intensive. Research in the
addition, the PV system can be integrated ZEB Centre has focused on how the
architecturally into the building. BIPV environmental impact of BIPV systems
systems are installed in several of the ZEB can be minimised while the energy yield
pilot projects, including the ZEB Living is maximised, for example through the FIGURE 2. Facade integration of semi-
Lab, Skarpnes, and the ZEB pilothouse choice of solar cell technology, mounting transparent Grätzel cells at EPFL campus in
in Larvik. structures, and system design. Lausanne, Switzerland.

Further reading: Good, C., Kristjansdottir, T. F., Houlihan Wiberg, A., Georges, L., & Hestnes, A. G. (2015). Inluence of PV technology and
system design on the emission balance of a net zero emission building concept. Solar Energy, 130, 89-100. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.
solener.2016.01.038.
Kristjansdottir, T.F., Good, C., Inman, M.R., Dahl Schlanbusch, R., Andresen, I (2016). Embodied greenhouse gas emissions from PV systems in
Norwegian residential Zero Emission Pilot Buildings. Solar Energy, 133, 155-171. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2016.03.06