Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

In order to mitigate and adapt to climate change, it is imperative to utilize as much as possible of the solar energy incident in the built environment to produce useful heat, electricity and in the case of buildings optimal daylight levels. The continuing rapid drop in the price of solar cells makes it possible to convert building envelopes into energy positive systems with Multifunctional Solar Systems (MSS). MSS can be part of the building envelope or a suitable surface in infrastructure such as roadways. MSS with appropriate energy storage and integrated HVAC systems can enable the development of energy-positive buildings and resilient infrastructure. My team has been researching optimal ways of harnessing incident solar energy on buildings with MSS such as building-integrated photovoltaic/thermal (BIPV/T) systems that produce electricity and solar heat and semitransparent photovoltaic (STPV) windows that transmit daylight while producing electricity as well. Development of such MSS fully integrated with building energy systems and selected infrastructure is the major goal of this proposal. The specific objectives of the proposed research program are as follows: 1. Design and modelling of advanced MSS building envelope systems that combine several functions to reduce cost while maximizing energy efficiency and energy production, such as fenestration systems that integrate semitransparent photovoltaic (STPV) layers that generate electricity while transmitting daylight, as well as electrochromic coatings or motorized daylighting layers. 2.  Design and development of model predictive control strategies that optimize solar gain utilization through control of active envelope systems (such as motorized shading, electrochromic coatings and daylighting devices) to reduce peak demand for electricity while achieving good thermal and visual comfort. 3. Development of advanced MSS infrastructure-integrated systems for a cold climate such as utilization of photovoltaic/thermal systems in conjunction with energy storage and heat pumps to produce electricity and useful heat that can be used for de-icing without use of salt in winter. 4. Development of novel energy design and operation concepts for building clusters to determine optimal configurations and strategies to reach net-zero energy at the cluster level while having a predictable impact on the electric grid demand/supply profiles. My research program is enabled by the strong team of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows that I supervise. These HQP will work from fundamental modelling to developing prototypes for testing and eventual commercialization. Their experience will integrate theory, modelling and simulation and application to the built environment. These HQP will gain the technical, oral and written communication skills that will enable their success in a variety of fields, including industry, academia and government institutions.