Shading the Way to Sustainable Energy: Harnessing Photovoltaic Panels for Building Efficiency

This research aimed to investigate the potential for reducing building temperatures by installing photovoltaic (PV) panels at an optimal height above the roof, allowing them to cast shade while generating electricity. The panels function as artificial insulation, reducing heat transfer to the building. A scaled model made from Balsa wood (0.50 m x 0.80 m x 0.97 m) with an aluminium shading plate (2.00 m x 0.90 m) was constructed to test this. The model was placed outdoors, exposed to direct sunlight from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and equipped with devices such as VELOCICALC for air temperature and velocity measurements, as well as an infrared thermometer for wall, roof, and plate temperature profiling. Simulations were also conducted using SketchUp and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to assess the optimal height of PV panels for three building types: a high-rise, a terrace, and a semi-detached house—PVSYST software estimated electricity generation based on roof size. Results indicated a maximum temperature reduction of 7°C and electricity cost savings of 25% to 30% when the buildings were shaded from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Implementing PV panels based on roof size showed the potential to generate up to RM 34,000 monthly. These findings demonstrate that hovering PV panels can provide significant energy savings and reduce cooling loads, making this approach a viable solution for sustainable building design.