Assessing the impact of photovoltaic shading devices on roof heat transfer in a hot desert climate of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 aims to significantly reduce its dependence on fossil fuels by 50%, meeting the remaining energy needs through renewable sources. Since most buildings in Saudi Arabia have unused roof space, there is a substantial opportunity for integrating sustainable energy. This paper aims to assess the shading effects of photovoltaic roof panels on roof heat transfer. The case study focuses on a higher education building located in a hot desert climate in Saudi Arabia. The calculation and assessment of the indirect shading effect were conducted using several software programs. Revit Architecture was used to create a 3D model of the building, and DesignBuilder software was utilized to estimate the building's energy consumption. The energy simulation was performed in two scenarios: one without photovoltaic panels and one with photovoltaic panels. The results indicate that installing 830 photovoltaic panels affects roof heat transfer, resulting in a 22.30% reduction in heat transfer during the summer months due to shading. Conversely, during winter, heat transfer increases by 19.64%, impacting heating demands. Statistical analysis, including t-test results, indicates a significant difference at the 95% confidence level. These findings highlight the potential of photovoltaic installations, not only for energy production but also for reducing overall energy demand.