Recent Developments in Solar Energy-Harvesting Technologies for Building Integration and Distributed Energy Generation

We present a review of the current state of the field for a rapidly evolving group of technologies related to solar energy harvesting in built environments. In particular, we focus on recent achievements in enabling the widespread distributed generation of electric energy assisted by energy capture...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mikhail Vasiliev, Mohammad Nur-E-Alam, Kamal Alameh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-03-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/6/1080
Description
Summary:We present a review of the current state of the field for a rapidly evolving group of technologies related to solar energy harvesting in built environments. In particular, we focus on recent achievements in enabling the widespread distributed generation of electric energy assisted by energy capture in semi-transparent or even optically clear glazing systems and building wall areas. Whilst concentrating on recent cutting-edge results achieved in the integration of traditional photovoltaic device types into novel concentrator-type windows and glazings, we compare the main performance characteristics reported with these using more conventional (opaque or semi-transparent) solar cell technologies. A critical overview of the current status and future application potential of multiple existing and emergent energy harvesting technologies for building integration is provided.
ISSN:1996-1073