Are Photovoltaic windows a good investment?

Novel window technologies, especially photovoltaic windows with high thermal performance, offer energy savings in all climates, ranging from 10,000–40,000 GJ per year over substandard windows for a typical office building, resulting in up to 2,000 tons of annual CO2 emissions reduction.

Can Photovoltaic windows save energy?

We construct and study models of thousands of different cases to reveal striking trends that guide future window technology deployment. 10,000–40,000 GJ of energy can be saved annually for a typical office building by utilizing photovoltaic windows along with simple geometric changes.

What is a building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) system?

Classified as a Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) system, ClearVue’s solar PV windows are integrated within a building’s envelope, as opposed to conventional PV systems where modules had to be mounted on the top of existing roofs.

What is the difference between PV glazing and wavelength-selective glazing?

The distinction between the two technologies is VT; non-selective PV glazing requires VT = 21.2% to reach PCE = 12.5%, but wavelength-selective technologies can reach the same PCE with a VT that is nearly double that value (VT = 41.7%).

What glazing technologies are being developed to improve thermal performance?

A number of new glazing technologies have been developed to further improve thermal performance, including triple-pane or “thin triple” 11 technology as well as vacuum-insulating glazing, 12 but there has been limited market adoption to date.

Why are wavelength-selective and dynamic PV technologies transformative?

Wavelength-selective and dynamic PV technologies are transformative because they each sidestep the tradeoff between VT and PCE found in non-wavelength-selective PV technology. There are distinct advantages to both. Wavelength-selective PV technology retains a high static VT to resemble conventional low-e glazing.