Potential of residential building integrated photovoltaic systems in different regions of China

Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) is a promising solution for providing building energy and realizing net-zero energy buildings. Based on the developed mathematical model, this paper assesses the solar irradiation resources and BIPV potential of residential buildings in different climate zones of China. It is found that roofs are the first choice for BIPV installation, followed by south façades, especially in high-latitude cities, and then east and west facades. North façades could be recommended in some cities with frequent clouds. The photovoltaic (PV) contribution of a combined rooftop and south façade BIPV system to building energy is highlighted, where the PV covers 50 % of the roof and 40 % of the south façade area. The system can meet the net load of a 4, 8, 7, 6, 4, and 4-storey building in Harbin, Urumqi, Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Guangzhou, respectively. In areas with sufficient irradiation and low demand, such as Lhasa and Kunming, the proposed system is most likely to achieve net-zero energy consumption in high-rise residential buildings. Different from previous study, this study proposes a comprehensive research framework for assessing the potential of residential BIPV system in various regions of China, considering partial shading effects. Since many provinces have issued relevant policies to promote distributed PVs, the findings can provide guidance for BIPV deployment in China.