Rethinking BIPVs: Evaluating the thermal trade-offs of building-integrated photovoltaics

Abstract

Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs) are increasingly adopted in both new constructions and retrofitting projects, yet their thermal impact on building performance remains challenging and highly context-dependent. This review systematically explores the negative thermal effects of BIPVs by analyzing studies published between 2004 and 2024. A combined bibliometric and qualitative analysis was conducted using six targeted search queries in Scopus, categorizing relevant publications into experimental, simulation-based, and integrated approaches. Reported drawbacks include increased cooling demand during summer, unwanted heat accumulation, and higher winter heat losses, often resulting from installation issues or limited airflow around modules. Extended field investigations are still lacking and usually fail to capture detailed behavior across different climates. Additionally, many simulation models simplify airflow dynamics and overlook thermal interactions at the urban scale. Only a limited number of studies have successfully combined field measurements with thermal modeling to generate more reliable and context-driven insights. The broader contribution of BIPVs to the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect also remains largely unaddressed, creating a persistent knowledge gap. This review emphasizes the necessity for integrated and interdisciplinary approaches that are tailored to local climate conditions to accurately assess the thermal performance of BIPV systems under diverse environmental conditions.