Investigating a Semitransparent Photovoltaic

Window’s Efficiency
A Translation Report

Figure 1. STPV Windows

These windows are examples of STPV windows. [1]

Prepared by Diego A. Villagran

November 1, 2019
Table of Contents
Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 1
Applications ........................................................................................................................... 1
Methods ................................................................................................................................. 1
Design factors ........................................................................................................................ 2
Window Size.....................................................................................................................................2
Window Exposure to Different Climates ...........................................................................................2
Window-to-Wall Ratio ......................................................................................................................2
Window Shadings .............................................................................................................................3
Obstacles................................................................................................................................ 3
Conclusions ............................................................................................................................ 4
Works Cited ............................................................................................................................ 6
Table of Figures

Figure 1. STPV Windows................................................................................................................. 1

Figure 2. Power Generation vs Window-to-Wall-Ratio .................................................................. 2

Figure 3. Types of Window Shadings ............................................................................................. 3

Figure 4. % Energy Savings vs Types of Shadings ........................................................................... 4

Figure 5. CO2 Reductions ............................................................................................................... 5

Introduction, Applications, Methods

Introduction
Without a doubt, global climate change is an issue today. The buildings around us are
responsible for 40% of the global energy consumption. Most of the energy is nonrenewable
energy and is one of the main factors contributing to the global climate change. [2]

Global climate change has led to scientists and engineers searching for eco-friendly electricity
generating mechanisms to help with global climate change. One mechanism currently being
researched is photovoltaic glazing windows.

Photovoltaic glazing windows are windows used to produce electricity. Photovoltaic windows
absorb solar radiation and in return produce electricity. However, there are different types of
photovoltaic glazing windows and factors determining how they are designed. In this report, I
will focus on Semitransparent Photovoltaic windows and identify which factors contribute to
maximizing the window’s energy efficiency.

Semitransparent Photovoltaic windows, also known as STPV windows, are one form of
photovoltaic glazing windows used to produce electricity for infrastructure. These windows are
different from other photovoltaic windows because they focus on maximizing energy efficiency
while considering the semitransparency of the window. Other photovoltaic windows such as
Low-E windows (a window with low emissivity coated on the inside to absorb solar radiation for
energy) do not. [2]

Applications
The applications of STPV windows vary but seem to be common in contemporary buildings that
use an excess amount of energy on air-conditioning. STPV windows offer energy without the
need for carbon footprints, the amount of carbon dioxide emitted from fossil fuels. In addition,
hospitals have a demand for STPV windows because of their transparency. The transparency
allows patients to see outdoors for the patient’s well-being. [1]

Methods
In order to identify which STPV window design factors maximize energy efficiency, I
interviewed Jack from Onyx Solar, a worldwide photovoltaic glazing window company. Jack
mentioned that more photovoltaic cells absorbing radiation would produce more energy.

This statement gives an easy understanding of the fundamentals of STPV windows because
bigger windows have more photovoltaic cells than smaller windows. In addition, he mentioned if
transparency increases energy production decreases which is why STPV windows are only
semitransparent.

An STPV window is installed. On the STPV window there are small transparent solar cells. The
small solar cells are responsible for absorbing solar radiation and producing electricity from the
solar radiation absorbed. The electricity produced goes to storage systems and is used throughout
the buildings infrastructure to power air conditioning, lights, outlets, etc. [1]

1
Design Factors

Design factors
STPV window designs that maximize energy efficiency consist of the following factors:
• Window Size
• Window Exposure to Different Climates
• Window-to-Wall Ratio
• Window Shading

Window Size
The first factor contributing to maximizing energy efficiency for STPV windows is the size of
the window. The window size determines how much solar radiation will be absorbed through the
photovoltaic cells to produce energy for the building in return. Bigger windows absorb more
solar radiation and in return produce more energy. [1]

Window Exposure to Different Climates

The second factor contributing to the energy produced from STPV windows is the window’s
exposure to climate. STPV windows will have the highest energy production under cold climates
while having the lowest energy production under hot climates. [3]

Window-to-Wall Ratio
The third factor contributing to maximizing energy efficiency for STPV windows is Window-to-
Wall ratio. The Window-to-Wall ratio, often referred to as WWR, is the percentage area that has
glazed windows compared to the building’s exterior walls.

The WWR is important in energy efficiency because the ratio determines the amount of solar
radiation that will be absorbed by the windows. For large WWR, energy efficiency is maximized
but will be inefficient if the WWR is less than 30% because there will be fewer STPV glazing
windows absorbing solar radiation compared to the exterior walls. [1]

Power generated in Harbin based off STPV WWR

800
Power generation

600
(kWh/Yr)

400

200

0
30% 45% 60% 75%

Window-to-Wall Ratio Percentage

Figure 2. Power Generation vs Window-to-Wall-Ratio. The graph shows
the Power Generation on Window-to-Wall-Ratio in the city of Harbin,
China. [1]

2
Conclusions

Window Shadings
Another factor contributing to energy efficiency for STPV windows is the type of window
shading for the STPV window. As already mentioned, hot climates lead to lower energy
production. To address this issue, shading devices are implemented onto STPV windows to keep
them cool. There are vertical shadings, horizontal shadings, and screen shading devices.

The best design for STPV shading devices is widely spaced horizontal shadings with a 45-degree
shading angle. These types of shadings have a 6.8% to 16% energy savings which is the highest
percentage compared to vertical shadings and screen shading devices. [4]

Screen Shading Horizontal Shading Vertical Shading

Figure 3. Types of Window Shadings. The three window shadings discussed shown. [4]

Obstacles
There are a couple obstacles affecting the data when testing STPV window design factors. One
of the biggest obstacles is the geographic location of where the STPV windows will be installed.
The geographic location of the STPV windows affects the window because of the climate it is
exposed to in that geographic location. [1]

Some places around the world are hotter than others and receive more sunlight. For example, the
city of Harbin compared to Beijing in China was able to produce on average about 100kWh/year
due to the city’s exposure to solar radiation. A kWh/year stands for kilowatt hour per year and is
a unit of measuring power. [1]

The geographic location becomes an obstacle when experimenting with STPV windows because
hot and cold climates are factors contributing to the energy efficiency of the windows. What
works in China might not work the same in Brazil due to the climate. Addressing the different
geological locations when experimenting with STPV window energy efficiency is not addressed
yet but could be sometime in the future as technology advances.

3
Conclusions

Conclusions
In conclusion, all of these factors have an effect on maximizing the energy efficiency for STPV
windows. As of now, one specific design does not surpass all the other designs. However, certain
factors show a higher efficiency than others.

STPV windows with horizontal shadings have a 6.8% to 16% energy savings compared to STPV
windows with vertical shadings and screen shadings. Horizontal shadings had an energy savings
of 62.8 while vertical shadings had a savings of 49.18 and screen shadings had an energy savings
of 59.89. [4]

% Energy Savings vs Types of Shadings

70

60
% Energy Savings

50

40

30

20

10

0
Horizontal Vertical Screen
Types of Shadings

Figure 4. % Energy Savings vs Types of Shadings. This graph shows the Horizontal Shading’s
6.8% to 16% energy savings compared to vertical and screen shadings. [4]

4
Conclusions

Also, a STPV window’s CO2 emission reduction has a maximum savings of .94 while having
the lowest CO2 emission reduction of .36 (See figure 5). To clarify, the maximum savings of .94
will in return mitigate 940 kilograms/year of CO2 emissions. The 940 kg/year of CO2 emission
mitigation saves an environmental cost of 12.9 million dollars. [4]

Maximum and Minimum CO2 reductions

1.2
CO2 Emission Reduction(tCO2)

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
1 2
1: Maximum 2: Minimum

Figure 5. CO2 Reductions. Figure 5 shows the possible maximum and

minimum amounts of CO2 reduction. [2]

There is potential to design and maximize energy efficiency of STPV windows. However, due
to a few obstacles like geographical location there is no design yet. Researchers and engineers
continue experimenting with the STPV window’s four design factors of window size, window
exposure to different climates, window-to-wall ratio, and window shadings.

5
Works Cited

Works Cited

[1] Y. Sun et al., “Integrated semi-transparent cadmium telluride photovoltaic

glazing into windows: Energy and daylight performance for different architecture
designs,” Applied Energy, no. 231, p. 972-984, September 2018. [online].
Available: Science Direct, doi:/10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.09.133. [Accessed
October 3, 2019].

[2] A. Karthick et al., “Performance analysis of semitransparent photovoltaic

module for skylights,” Energy, no. 162, p. 798-812, August 2018. [online].
Available: Science Direct, doi:/10.1016/j.energy.2018.08.043. [Accessed October
11, 2019].

[3] W. Zhang et al., “Comparison of the overall energy performance of semi-

transparent photovoltaic windows and common energy-efficient windows in Hong
Kong,” Energy and Buildings, no. 128, p. 511-518, July 2016. [online]. Available:
Science Direct, doi:/10.1016/j.enbuild.2016.07.016. [Accessed October 13,
2019].

[4] A. H. Sadek and R. Mahrous, “Adaptive glazing technologies: Balancing the

benefits of outdoor views in healthcare environments,” Solar Energy, no. 174, p.
719-727, September 2018.[online]. Available: Science Direct,
doi:/10.1016/j.solenar.2018.09.032. [Accessed October 3, 2019].