Solar Energy Perspectives - IEA

Chapter 4: Buildings
Photo 4.5 Manspach church (Alsace, France) renovated using
photovoltaic tiles
Source: Daniel Dietmann, Saint-Gobain Solar.
Key point
Solar PV and thermal can be concealed and integrated in easy-to-assemble systems.
In an era of energy-producing buildings, the grid would then serve as a storage system, from
the viewpoint of each producer-customer. As shown in Chapter 3, a PV penetration of about
10% would not create significant issues for the grid operators as a result of its variability. Some
work would be needed on the grids to facilitate the minute-by-minute transfer of electrons
from buildings with excess to those running in deficit even if they were some distance away.
The current at the connection linking grid and building would need to go from distribution to
transmission levels, and not only, as at present, from transmission to distribution levels.
The IEA PVPS (Photovoltaic Power Systems) programme studied the potential for generation
of electricity from PV integrated in, or adapted to, buildings in 14 countries in 2002 and
compared this technical potential to the electricity consumption of these countries in 1998
(in total, not only in buildings). This assessment is based on reasonable assumptions to
evaluate the surfaces available on façades and roofs, the effects of shading, the orientation
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© OECD/IEA, 2011