The Energy Storage Capability of Building Rainscreen Cladding Panels Integrated with Photovoltaic and Reversible Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Abstract

This study forms an integral part of an ongoing doctoral project aimed at developing and assessing building skin solutions intended for use as distributed energy sources. Photovoltaics (PV) have become extensively employed and integrated into buildings to harvest solar radiation and produce electricity. However, a notable challenge with photovoltaics lies in their intermittent nature, which leads to an unreliable and unstable energy supply. As more photovoltaics are introduced to the grid, the "duck effect" emerges, exacerbating the difference between maximum and minimum energy supply in a day, posing a threat to power infrastructure stability. Addressing these issues, one strategy involves the use of batteries, although they are constrained by scalability and degradation concerns. A promising alternative for energy storage in buildings is the Reversible Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (RPEMFC), which, despite being used in power facilities, has not seen widespread adoption in buildings. Our objective is to design building components that can seamlessly integrate a reversible fuel cell with photovoltaics, creating a self-sufficient system capable of providing renewable energy for the building. This paper presents three significant contributions: (a) The proposal of a building cladding panel with the capability to harvest solar energy, convert it into hydrogen for storage, and subsequently utilize the stored hydrogen to generate electricity. (b) Conceptualization of the building system and an illustration of its functionality within a building context. (c) Execution of simulations using Matlab/Simulink to assess the capability of hydrogen production and storage. The simulations were conducted in two distinct locations, namely Phoenix, Arizona, and Chicago, Illinois. The study suggests that optimal outcomes are not achieved in the hottest weather conditions; specifically, the highest hydrogen production occurred in winter due to larger zenith angles hitting vertical building facades and lower temperatures being conducive to PV-RPEMFC performance.