Evaluating BIPV Modules with Respect to Textural Appearance, Glare, Colour and Electricity Yield

BIPV modules are often visible as part of a façade or a roof, so it is important to know, not only how much electricity they will generate, but also how they will appear to an observer or interact with incident light. This paper thus addresses methods to evaluate module appearance (colour and surface gloss or mattness) and external glare from modules. It also discusses prediction of the electricity yield, since this is the primary task for every PV and BIPV installation and should always be taken into account, when BIPV systems are evaluated. For each property evaluated, not only the methodology but also some results obtained by applying it to different types of (BI)PV modules are presented. Each methodology is based on the measurement of module properties; in the case of glare and electricity yield prediction, system aspects of a BIPV installation and its surroundings are also presented in this paper.