Investigation on the optical, thermal, and electrical performance of photovoltaic-aerogel glazing system under different weather conditions

Aerogel materials have gained increasing attention in building applications due to their exceptional thermal insulation properties and optical transparency. This study proposes a photovoltaic-aerogel glazing system (PAGS), offering better energy-saving potential than conventional photovoltaic glazing systems (PVGS). A comprehensive coupled numerical model integrating optical, thermal and electrical processes was established to evaluate its performance across five climate zones in China. The key findings include: (1) The aerogel interlayer reduces PV cell temperatures by 12.9 %–21.6 % through enhanced thermal management, significantly improving power conversion efficiency; (2) PAGS performs best in Severe Cold Regions, saving 75.66 % of heating load each year. In Cold Regions and Hot-Summer Cold-Winter Regions, PAGS improves by 73.49 % and 70.42 % respectively compared to PVGS; (3) Except for the Hot-Summer Warm-Winter Regions where the best installation direction is north, the best installation direction in other areas is south; (4) Climate adaptability analysis confirms optimal performance in cold climate areas, from best to worst: Severe Cold Regions, Cold Regions, Hot-Summer Cold-Winter Regions, Temperate Regions, Hot-Summer Warm-Winter Regions. The demonstrated performance advantages position PAGS as a highly promising technology for next-generation energy-efficient buildings in cold climate applications.