Research and practice: Solar technology in building envelopes
The integration of solar collectors and photovoltaic (PV) modules into the exterior surfaces of buildings will play a growing role in future. Among the reasons for this are the objectives of a de-centralised power supply - including the aims of the new EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) - which give rise to the expectation that near-zero-energy and plus-energy buildings will become the standard in new building construction. The consequence of these two factors is that parts or the whole of roofs and facades are increasingly being transformed into generators of heat and/or electricity.
