Semi-experimental investigation on the energy performance of photovoltaic double skin façade with different façade materials

The photovoltaic double skin façade (PV-DSF) is a cutting-edge building envelope renowned for its dynamic nature and power generation capabilities, which attracts substantial scientific attention. However, the current lack of experimental support makes it challenging to draw definitive conclusions about the influence of façade material. This study aims to address this gap by investigating the energy performance of PV-DSF with different façade materials, thereby establishing an empirical foundation for its optimization. In this regard, the full-size comparison experiments on PV-DSF with 20/40% photovoltaic (PV) glass as external façade and laminated/double glass as internal glass were conducted in Harbin, China. The EnergyPlus software is adopted for the simulation of lighting energy consumption. The results indicate that PV-DSF with 40% PV outperforms that with 20% PV, leading to significant reductions in total energy consumption in both summer (22.73%) and winter (16.84%). The double glass can prevent 0.49 MJ of total heat gain in summer, which is accompanied by a marginal 0.03 MJ increase in winter energy consumption. In total, for optimal annual performance, 40% PV and double glass are recommended as the façades of PV-DSF. The results of this investigation can provide an experimental foundation for PV-DSF optimization in sustainable building design.