Simulating grid-connected photovoltaic buildings

This paper presents a new software tool to simulate grid-connected photovoltaic buildings. To make the tool widely available to any potential users it has been deployed on a WWW server so that it can be concurrently run by multiple users on the Internet. The main aim of this simulator is to predict the energy balance and economic behaviour of grid-connected PV buildings so that different alternatives can be tested to optimise designs. Consumption analysis is performed by considering six geometric parameters that determine the building's response, following a methodology based on data from monitored buildings, an internal reference building and regression analysis. PV energy estimates are obtained by calculating solar radiation hourly values for the roof and facades and simulating individual PV cells. The resulting energy balance and the economic behaviour of the building are then estimated and the results given in tables, diagrams and several graphic formats.