Building integrated performance simulation of an innovative dynamic BIPV shading device

This study presents a method for the assessment of the building integrated performances of a novel BIPV shading system, which consists of dynamic and extensible blinds integrating PV. A typical office module, located in Milan (Italy), with a South oriented façade, was chosen as case study. Different Window to Wall Ratios (WWR) and different type of controls – fix shading or lamellas tilted and extended on the basis of indoor temperature and/or solar irradiance - of the BIPV system were considered. The shading control strategy was implemented in Building Controls Virtual Test Bed software (BCVTB). In fact, BCVTB enables to dynamically combine EnergyPlus for the thermal calculation and Radiance for daylighting evaluation. The overall energy performance was assessed taking into account heating, cooling and lighting needs as well as PV generation. The results show that the innovative dynamic system, even without PV, reduces the overall energy needs, and with PV generation allows to achieve the nearly zero energy target.