Exploring Building Roof-Integrated Photovoltaic Energy Potentials: Case Study of Lecture Theatres in MAUTECH Yola, Nigeria
Attah, U. A., Othman, S. & Idowu, O. M.
Department of Architecture
Modibbo Adama University of Technology (MAUTECH), Yola, Nigeria
Email: ahmedattah001@gmail.com
Corresponding Author: Attah, U. A.
Email: ahmedattah001@gmail.com
Corresponding Author: Attah, U. A.
ABSTRACT
Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) is a multifunctional building element which performs the dual function as an integral component of a building (such as roof tiles, BIPV skylight, glazed facade) and at the same time generate electrical energy without the need for additional space and emission of carbon. It has served as a tool for designing energy efficient and sustainable buildings with ability to create a conducive micro-climatic environment where visual, thermal and acoustic comforts are attained through reduced energy cost with little or no negative impact on the environment. Among other factors the energy generating potentials of BIPV depends on the available insulation on building site, and its form, orientation and inclination of deployed building component. This research quantifies the energy generating potential of BIPV systems on rooftops of lecture theatres in MAUTECH, Yola, Nigeria. All the lecture theartres of the Univeristy were subjects of the study, based on logical argumentation. A checklist on varialbes of BIPV was generated for the LTs and a mathemathecal model was used in relation to the climatic data of Yola to calculate the energy potentials of rooftops of the lecture theatres. It was found that an average of about 50% of the roof area of the LTs if covered with BIPV system is capable of generating the total energy need of the building. It was also found that LTs with flat roof have more potential of generating solar power than hipped roofs.
Keywords: Energy Efficiency; Sustainable; Multifunctional; Building Envelope; Rooftop.
