photovoltaics

Τhe present article deals with the development and testing of photovoltaic pavement for heat island mitigation. The scope of this study is to evaluate its contribution to the balance of the Urban Heat Island phenomenon. For this reason, we made a photovoltaic pavement for purely experimental reasons (dimensions 3.5x1.3m) that consists of two different voltage polycrystalline photovoltaic panels. On top of them, a triplex security glass with a nonslip silk screen, PVB standard 1.14 mm was placed.

This paper presents a case study of a typically poor energy performing factory building singled outfrom nation-wide study on factory buildings for improving energy performance. Short term energymonitoring has shown that lighting system is the main energy consumer of landlord area energyusage in these naturally ventilated factory buildings. It aims to maximize significant energyperformance upgrading opportunities in the lighting system and explore the use of photovoltaics toachieve low-energy factory buildings.

A major concern of those wishing to limit the energy use in buildings is the growing trend towards installing air-conditioning in new and refurbished  buildings. The Airlit - PV project has taken this challenge and has designed a novel fa9ade unit incorporating the latest thinking in solar control, natural ventilation, daylighting and photovoltaic power. By careful design and intelligent control the goal is to reduce the impact of solar and internal gains to such an extent that mechanical cooling is not required to maintain comfort conditions.

This paper describes the current government activities relating to Photovoltaics in buildings as implemented in tbe DTI New and Renewable Energy Progranune. To set the context the paper starts with a brief review of the overall prospects for renewable energy in global, European and UK contexts. This is based on work previously undertaken for the DTI1. For comparison, the current state of deployment of renewable energy in the UK is reviewed. This then leads into a brief description of the UK government's programme on new and renewable energy.