A comprehensive global review of building integrated photovoltaic systems

Abstract

Saudi Arabia has embarked on diversification of its existing energy portfolio through rene wables, mainly solar photovoltaic and thermal, and wind power. This study presents an overview of how different areas around the world utilized building-integrated solar photovoltaic applications to recommend appropriate and suitable options for implementation in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East region. With this objective, the power utility will have three-fold benefits (i) clean and economic power arability for off-grid remotely located dwellings, (ii) cutting down the emissions of greenhouse gases, and (iii) conserving the fixed reserves of fossil fuels, which are being used mainly for power production around the world. The study shows that building-integrated applications are most common in Asian and European countries. Moreover, it is observed that monocrystalline and polycrystalline photovoltaic materials are both technologically and economically suitable for such applications.