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Design, Development, and Characterization of Low Distortion Advanced Semitransparent Photovoltaic Glass for Buildings Applications

Author

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  • Mohammad Khairul Basher

    (School of Science, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA 6027, Australia)

  • Mohammad Nur-E Alam

    (School of Science, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA 6027, Australia)

  • Kamal Alameh

    (School of Science, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA 6027, Australia)

Abstract

Aesthetic appearance of building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) products, such as semitransparent PV (STPV) glass, is crucial for their widespread adoption and contribution to the net-zero energy building (NZEB) goal. However, the visual distortion significantly limits the aesthetics of STPV glass. In this study, we investigate the distortion effect of transparent periodic-micropattern-based thin-film PV (PMPV) panels available in the market. To minimize the visual distortion of such PMPV glass panel types, we design and develop an aperiodic micropattern-based PV (APMP) glass that significantly reduces visual distortion. The developed APMP glass demonstrates a haze ratio of 3.7% compared to the 10.7% of PMPV glass. Furthermore, the developed AMPV glass shows an average visible transmittance (AVT) of 58.3% which is around 1.3 times higher than that of AMPV glass (43.8%). Finally, the measured CIELAB values (L* = 43.2, a* = −1.55, b* = −2.86.) indicate that our developed AMPV glass possesses excellent color neutrality, which makes them suitable for commercial applications. Based on the characterization results, this study will have a significant impact on the areas of smart window glasses that can play a vital role in developing a sustainable environment and enhancing the aesthetical appearance of net-zero energy buildings (NZEB).

Suggested Citation

  • Mohammad Khairul Basher & Mohammad Nur-E Alam & Kamal Alameh, 2021. "Design, Development, and Characterization of Low Distortion Advanced Semitransparent Photovoltaic Glass for Buildings Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-11, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:13:p:3929-:d:585910
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    References listed on IDEAS

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