PHOTOVOLTAICS IN GRID-CONNECTED BUILDINGS - ENERGY-FLOW AND ECONOMIC-ASPECTS

Two main subjects must be considered in the analysis of a photovoltaic grid-connected building. The first concerns the various energy flows, such as the hourly photovoltaic generation and the electricity consumption of the building, that determine the global energy balance, i.e. the extent to which the system will be able to supply the building's electricity consumption. This paper provides a simple method to estimate this behaviour. Secondly, we must consider the long-term cost of the system, a hey aspect that depends on the economic scenario and can be made attractive given the appropriate policies (some examples are mentioned).