Simulation of the Renewable Energy Production Potential of Building Integrated Photovoltaics on Residential Buildings in Naples

In Italy buildings alone are responsible for 49 million toe of energy consumption, the most energy-intensive sector responsible for almost half of the national total and, despite the modest population growth recorded in recent decades, energy consumption has increased by + 45% since 1990. European and national decarbonisation goals and the growing demand for energy production from renewable sources requires a pervasive use of integrated photovoltaic (PV) systems and components. Innovative multifunctional building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems enable the widespread integration of such solutions into the building sector. BIPV solutions on the market differ not only in technology, but also in their visual appearance and different integration methods, with features ranging from modularity and simplicity of assembly to lightness and structural safety, with the possibility of including insulation or micro-ventilation components. The study presented aims to evaluate the applicability of BIPV solutions on a sample of residential buildings in Naples (Italy), with the goal of assessing the most effective integration methods according to different urban contexts and typological-morphological features, but also to discuss the critical aspects of the pervasive use of these solutions.