Lifetime performance of semi-transparent building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) glazing systems in the tropics

The use of semi-transparent BIPV as a form of on-site renewable energy generation in energy efficient sustainable buildings is increasing. Its popularity is due to its contribution towards zero-(or even plus) energy buildings. In urban cities where the buildings have limited rooftop area but large façade areas, adopting semi-transparent BIPV windows is an alternative for conventional windows. The semi-transparent BIPV windows not only solely generate electricity but also affect the buildings' electricity usage through daylighting and heat gain/loss. In tropical climates where it is hot and humid all year round, the importance of window façade elements is even more pertinent due to high cooling load from the solar heat gains.