EFFECTS OF BIPV ON PERFORMANCES A. De Lillo, Saverio Li Causi, Salvatore Castello, Francesco De Lia, Giorgio Graditi*, Alessandra Scognamiglio* ENEA C.R. Casaccia, Via Anguillarese 301 - 00060 - Rome, Italy * ENEA Portici, Loc. Granatello – 80055 - Portici, Italy ABSTRACT: The effect on performances of both module temperature and non optimal array exposure will be analysed. In this paper the five investigated grid connected PV systems are installed or integrated in buildings (mainly Municipalities, Universities, Secondary Schools) at different geographical location and are representative of the basic ways of mounting: namely roof, facades, canopy sunshade and free standing on flat roof. A special emphasis has the localization of modules, characterized by high visibility for people and an educative value for students. Of course, in order to analyze plant performance and to verify the effectiveness of the adopted technical solutions, all the pilot plants have been routinely monitored. The results of the analysis confirm the importance of the optimal mounting exposition as well as best solutions for an efficient cooling of the PV modules. Keywords: Building Integration, Performance, Evaluation 1 INTRODUCTION One of the most important activities carried out by ENEA (the Italian Agency for New Technology, Energy and the Environment) in the framework of the preliminary actions foreseen by the National Roof-top Programme regards the development, experimentation and diffusion of Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) systems [1]. So, since 1999 major progress occurred in design construction and performance analysis of 15 small pilot plants, building integrated and installed in some principal Italian cities and at Manfredonia and Portici ENEA test facilities [2,3,4]. Moreover, similar activities are carried out by CESI (the institute for Research and Certification of Electric components and Systems) on further 5 pilot plants located in Northern Italy and in Sardinia island [5]. Data collection and performances of these 20 plants are analyzed in terms of energy output, energy losses, power quality, operation and maintenance procedures. All these activities are carried out with the aim of: - experimenting the integration of the photovoltaic generator into the architectural design of roofs, facades and shelters, without neglecting to publicize this kind of applications; - testing new grid interface modes adopting simplified protection devices; - evaluate plant performance as well as to verifying the effectiveness of the technical solutions adopted. In fact, these pilot plants being characterized by different applications, modules technology, and tilts (installation of PV generators operating in non optimal tilt exposure is becoming more and more common because of the growth of PV building integration application) have provided, through their design and operational data analysis, useful information in order to evaluate the effects of BIPV on performance. 2 INVESTIGATED PLANTS The PV plants analyzed in this report are 5 small grid connected applications ranging fro 2 kW to 3.2 kW. A special emphasis has the localization of these plants, all integrated in public buildings such as Municipalities, Universities and Secondary Schools, that are characterized by high visibility for citizens and an educative value for students. Moreover in some plants, purposely developed modules by the Italian industry are tested in real operating conditions. Of course, in order to analyze plant performance and to verify the effectiveness of the adopted technical solutions, all the pilot plants have been routinely monitored through intensive measurement campaigns (analytical monitoring). All systems have been in fact equipped with a standard Data Acquisition System, for monitoring and transferring the main electrical and meteorological parameters, designed according to the standard CEI EN 61724 “Photovoltaic system performance monitoring: guidelines for measurement, data exchange and analysis”. To this analysis annual datasets of ten minutes data, acquired from 2000 to 2002, have been used. It is worth mentioning that monthly values of the electrical and meteorological parameters are currently recorded in the IEA PVPS performance database [6]. The plants investigated have been installed in different geographical conditions and have been selected out of the 20 systems (figure 1) under test and experimentation in 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 canopy facade sunshade glass roof sloped roof freestanding number of plants Figure 1: Mounting typology histogram order to allow a comparison among the basic ways of mounting: namely canopy, roof, sunshade, faced and free standing on flat roof. - Canopy: the plant (figure 2) is located in the area of the 19th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, 7-11 June 2004, Paris, France 2503