Parametric design for combined solar facades for high-rise residential buildings

The integration of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules with building facades offers a sustainable solution for generating clean energy and enhancing architectural design. Both PV facades and PV shadings are Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) products that can be utilized to achieve net-zero buildings. In addition to energy performance metrics, aesthetics are equally crucial considerations in integrative photovoltaic design. Expeditiously approximating and optimizing projected energy yields attendant to integrative photovoltaic implementation during formative design phases would meaningfully support the evolutionary process. This study explores a combined solar facades system, consisting of colored opaque facade-integrated photovoltaics (FIPV) attached to the building's walls and passive solar shadings. This research first employs regression methods to model the shading impact on solar radiation and then uses a parametric approach to evaluate and optimize the combined solar facades system on the facade of a high-rise residential building in Hong Kong. Furthermore, the effects of geometric and color parameters of solar shadings and solar walls on the energy efficiency and total power harvesting were analyzed. In conclusion, a combined solar facades system shows promise for net-zero energy buildings. Opportunities to refine integrated CAD 3D modeling and simulation tools were noted to further optimize design decisions for BIPV projects in the early design stage.