A comprehensive energy, exergy, economic, and environmental impact assessment of building-integrated photovoltaic systems

Building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) technology has become a substantial avenue for urban development, offering alternative energy sources and reducing the environmental impact of conventional energy systems. This study presents a comprehensive energy, exergy, economic, and environmental assessment of a proposed BIPV system, focusing on a case study of a laboratory building at the University of Bordj Bou Arreridj, Algeria. The experimental investigation evaluates the performance of a single standard photovoltaic module (SPV), window-integrated photovoltaic module (WIPV), and BIPV system. The results indicate that the average experimental power outputs for the SPV, WIPV, and BIPV systems are roughly 55.15 W, 10.61 W, and 65.75 W, respectively. Additionally, simulation data for the proposed BIPV system are analyzed and presented. The results demonstrate an overall yearly output of 9.45 MWh, an energy payback time of 4.95 years, an energy return on investment of 4.03:1, yearly savings of $370.48, and a net present value of $981.55. Furthermore, the BIPV system has been shown to mitigate approximately 5.37 tons of CO₂.equ/y in terms of global warming potential. Overall, this study offers a comprehensive assessment of the BIPV system operating under Algerian climatic conditions, demonstrating significant potential for future advancements in solar energy harvesting.