The GRIC research group rethinks Building-Integrated Photovoltaics by evaluating their thermal trade-offs

The Group of Construction Research and Innovation (GRIC) at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) has conducted a comprehensive review assessing the thermal trade-offs of Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPVs). The results have been published in Energy & Buildings (JCR-Q1, Impact Factor: 7.1) in September 2025, under the title “Rethinking BIPVs: Evaluating the thermal trade-offs of building-integrated photovoltaics.” The study was led by Foad Foroutanfar, under the supervision of Prof. Blanca Tejedor and Prof. Miquel Casals.

While BIPVs are increasingly promoted as key technologies for sustainable construction and renewable energy generation, their thermal behavior remains complex and context-dependent. The paper systematically examines 20 years of international research to identify how BIPVs influence building energy performance, analyzing both experimental and simulation-based studies.

The findings reveal that, under certain climatic conditions, BIPVs can increase cooling demand, create unwanted heat retention, or reduce winter heat gains — effects often caused by insufficient ventilation or improper installation design. Moreover, large-scale implementation may contribute to the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect in dense urban areas.

The study emphasizes the need for integrated, climate-specific approaches combining long-term monitoring, field experiments, and advanced simulation tools to accurately assess and optimize BIPV systems in real environments.

Conceptual diagram illustrating the thermal interactions of BIPV systems.

You can read the full text of the article at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2025.116451