Parametric Analysis of Daylight and Solar Energy Performance of Oasis Building Environments Through Kinetic Shading Devices Integrated with a Photovoltaic System

Abstract

Despite the growing use of parametric and computational tools in sustainable architecture, there remains a significant lack of research on kinetic shading devices integrated with photovoltaic (PV) systems. This pilot study addresses this gap by exploring the dual potential of such systems to enhance indoor daylight quality and generate clean energy in the Saharan climate of Algeria. The research targets two primary objectives, improving indoor daylight performance and maximizing solar energy production. Using Grasshopper, Honeybee, and Ladybug tools, three kinetic shading configurations were evaluated across four desert cities Biskra, El Oued, Ghardaïa, and Ouargla. Simulation results indicate that the shading devices modestly improved indoor daylight conditions, with the most effective configuration achieving a Useful Daylight Illuminance (UDI100-2000) of approximately 37% at a 0.2 opening ratio. However, the overall luminous environment remained suboptimal, as over 56% of the space experienced under-illumination (UDI<100), and Continuous Daylight Autonomy (CDA) values remained below 40%. Conversely, the integrated PV systems consistently yielded a strong energy performance, producing approximately 840 kWh/year across all models and locations. These findings demonstrate that while improvements in visual comfort were limited, the use of kinetic PV-integrated facades offers significant potential for clean energy generation in hot arid climates. Further research is recommended to conduct full optimization simulations across multiple kinetic models and building typologies to enhance the generalizability and performance of such systems.