Building integrated concentrating solar systems - Solar Energy Sciences and Engineering Applications - page 552

Table 17.1.1 Requirements for building integration of solar thermal systems (Munari Probst and
Roecker 2007; 2012).

Type of building
integration Description of the system Requirements

Facade and roof use of the solar energy system as

integrations a construction element; evaluation

of position and dimensions of the
collector field by considering the
building as a whole; choice of
colours and materials based on
building and context; module
size/shape based on building and
facade/roof composition grids
(or vice versa)

For all the types of ensuring/preserving the functions

envelope integration of the envelope: protection (e.g.

from rain), insulation, comfort etc.
new designs based on:
type of building; energy
performance; users' required
freedom and aesthetic preferences;
production feasibility/standardisation

Functional Integration multifunctional collectors envelop functions compatible with

integration into building envelope solar heat collection

Constructive Integration integrating solar collectors in a to take into consideration the

façade constructive characteristics of the

specific technology to be
integrated along with the
specificities of the constructive
system hosting the collectors

Formal Integration flexibility in terms of all collector

characteristics affecting building
appearance: module shape/size/
jointing, collector colour, visible
surfaces textures etc.

to work with the transparency of an atrium and to provide architectural continuity as
a roof. The PV panels are performing wholly and perfectly a building function, defin-
ing the image of the house and leading to a new architectural concept. The “Schott
Ibérica'' building (Figure 17.1.4d) in Barcelona combines a semi-transparent photo-
voltaic façade in which the coloured windows are transparent and the cells are opaque,
resulting in a singular shading system. The façade constitutes an important element of
the building's aesthetics, both for its interior space and outwardly.
As described previously, PV modules can be in the form of: (i) roofing materials;
(ii) wall materials; and (iii) photovoltaic flexible modules applicable for construction
materials (Shinjo, 1994; Toyokawa and Uehara, 1997). PV building roof integration
includes exchangeable PV shingles, prefabricated PV roof panels and insulated PV roof
panels (Shinjo, 1994). PV glass curtain walls and PV metal curtain walls are used for
integration of PV modules with wall materials (Shinjo 1994; Toyokawa and Uehara,