Architectural design scenarios with building-integrated photovoltaic solutions in renovation processes: Case study in Neuchâtel (Switzerland)

In view of the importance of urban renewal processes, building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems can potentially provide a crucial response to the energy turnaround challenges. Functioning both as envelope material and electricity generator, they can simultaneously reduce the use of fossil fuels and greenhouse gases emissions while providing savings in materials and electricity costs. However, despite continuous technological and economic progress, the assets of BIPV remain undervalued in the current practice. Various obstacles (technology choice, small volumes, lack of information and good examples) tend to increase the costs and reduce the project acceptance. To overcome these barriers, an interdisciplinary research project developed an approach based on four main phases: 1) selection of archetypal residential buildings, 2) detailed analysis of the buildings, 3) development of renewal design scenarios and 4) multi-criteria assessment of each scenario. Focusing on the architectural-scale, this paper presents design strategies with BIPV solutions of a representative case study realized in Neuchâtel (Switzerland). A multi-criteria assessment of the proposed design scenarios allows comparing the different strategies. It highlights the influence of the design decisions on the final performances, helping us to move towards an optimization of the BIPV surfaces in order to maximize self-consumption regarding the building consumption profile.