Experimental study of a vertically mounted bifacial photovoltaic sunshade

BIPV (building-integrated photovoltaic) technology can convert incident solar energy directly into electricity while reducing cooling energy consumption. Using PV modules as a sunshade also prevents glare. Recently, the application of bifacial photovoltaic technology in the building sector has shown promise for achieving building energy-saving and carbon-neutral goals. In this study, we conducted an experiment to evaluate the thermal, light, and electrical performance of a vertically mounted bifacial photovoltaic sunshade (BiPVS). Over three consecutive days, the average daily power generation was 709.4 kJ for the west-oriented PV module and 636.7 kJ for the east-oriented one. The average electrical efficiencies were 15.67 % and 25.62 %. By applying BiPVS, the daily average illuminance levels were reduced by 2.48-4.64 % for the measurement point at 1.0 m distance from the window and 12.32-12.40 % for the point at 2.0 m distance. Additionally, we suggested two improvement solutions, including reserving intervals between the PV module and the window to facilitate natural convective heat dissipation and enlarging the height of the BiPVS. The results of this study demonstrate the energy-saving potential of the innovative BiPVS in low-carbon or zero-carbon building designs, and provide new ideas for the development of solar building integrated technology.