With the intensification of global climate change, buildings in hot climate zones face increasing challenges related to high energy consumption and thermal comfort. Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) façades, which combine power generation and energy saving potential, require further optimization in their climate-adaptive design. Most existing studies primarily focus on the photoelectric conversion efficiency of PV modules, yet there is a lack of systematic analysis of the coupled effects of temperature, humidity, and solar radiation intensity on PV performance. Moreover, the current literature rarely addresses the regional material degradation patterns, integrated cooling solutions, or intelligent control systems suitable for hot and humid climates. There is also a lack of practical, climate specific design guidelines that connect theoretical technologies with real world applications. This paper systematically reviews BIPV façade design strategies following a climate zoning framework, summarizing research progress from 2019 to 2025 in the areas of material innovation, thermal management, light regulation strategies, and parametric design. A climate responsive strategy is proposed to address the distinct challenges of humid hot and dry hot climates. Finally, this study discusses the barriers and challenges of BIPV system applications in hot climates and highlights future research directions. Unlike previous reviews, this paper offers a multi-dimensional synthesis that integrates climatic classification, material suitability, passive and active cooling strategies, and intelligent optimization technologies. It further provides regionally differentiated recommendations for façade design and outlines a unified framework to guide future research and practical deployment of BIPV systems in hot climates.

Buildings are under increasing pressure to address decarbonization and climate adaptation, which is pushing design practice from post hoc performance checks to performance-driven generative design (PDGD). This review maps the current state of PDGD in buildings and proposes an engineering-oriented framework that links research methods to deployable workflows. Using a PRISMA-based systematic search, we identify 153 core studies and code them along five dimensions: design objects and scales, objectives and metrics, algorithms and tools, workflows, and data and validation. The corpus shows a strong focus on facades, envelopes, and single-building massing, dominated by energy, daylight and thermal comfort objectives, and a widespread reliance on parametric platforms connected to performance simulation software with multi-objective optimization. From this evidence we extract three typical workflow routes: parametric evolutionary multi-objective optimization, surrogate or Bayesian optimization, and data- or model-driven generation. Persistent weaknesses include fragmented metric conventions, limited cross-case or field validation, and risks to reproducibility. In response, we propose a harmonized objective–metric system, an evidence pyramid for PDGD, and a reproducibility checklist with practical guidance, which together aim to make PDGD workflows more comparable, auditable, and transferable for design practice.

Retrofitting existing buildings to be more energy-efficient is a tremendous contribution to the sustainability of society. The application of photovoltaic integrated shading devices (PVSDs) accords with this ambition by blocking out unwanted radiant heat gain and generating clean electricity. The deployment of PVSDs needs sensible design strategies to optimize the production of renewable energy while retaining the aesthetic quality of the built-up environment, especially in historic campuses. The concept was tested in a case study of buildings in South China University of Technology (SCUT) using Ladybug 1.4.0 and PVsyst 7.2, utilizing the existing “Xia’s shading” design method in historical environments and optimizing the design from the perspective of photovoltaic performance. Firstly, the photovoltaic (PV) panels were integrated as architectural components, and the parameters were incorporated into a mathematical equation based on “Xia’s shading” design method. This was followed by the assessment of the solar energy harvesting potential based on simulated annual solar irradiation values. Lastly, the PV panels’ solar irradiation potential under these different parameters was shown in figures to identify the optimum parameters combination for PVSD applications. The proposed methodology could evolve as a design tool and thus further assist in promoting the large-scale adoption of PVSDs in retrofit projects.

In the context of global decarbonization goals and increasing urban electricity demand, the green transformation of power industry buildings to enhance the utilization of renewable energy represents a significant contribution to sustainable social development. Rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems can reduce unnecessary radiative heat gain and generate clean electricity to support this transition; however, they also alter the rooftop wind environment. Deploying rooftop PV systems requires well-planned design strategies to optimize renewable energy production while ensuring adequate natural ventilation, particularly for semi-outdoor main transformer rooms where ventilation and heat dissipation are crucial for safe substation operations. This concept was tested at a 220 kV substation in Guangzhou, China, using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and PVSYST to assess the impact of different rooftop PV systems on natural ventilation and power generation. The analysis showed that while the horizontal PV system achieved the highest energy output, it also resulted in a wind speed reduction of 13.2% or 11.8%. In contrast, the 10° symmetrical PV system offers the most balanced solution, with only a 0.6% decrease in ventilation performance but at the cost of a 13.87% reduction in PV output. The unilateral pitched PV system results in ventilation losses of less than 4%, and the power generation loss is also kept below 4%. However, this configuration may lead to increased wind loads. This approach can be developed into a practical design tool to further support the integration of PV systems in substation green retrofitting projects.

This paper explores the optimal configuration strategies for building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems in response to the low-carbon transformation needs of semi-outdoor substations, aiming to reconcile the contradiction between photovoltaic (PV) power generation efficiency and indoor environmental control in industrial buildings. Taking a 220 kV semi-outdoor substation of the China Southern Power Grid as a case study, a building energy consumption–PV power generation coupling model was established using EnergyPlus software. The impacts of three PV wall constructions and different building orientations on a transformer room and an air-conditioned living space were analyzed. The results show the EPS-filled PV structure offers superior passive thermal performance and cooling energy savings, making it more suitable for substation applications with high thermal loads. Building orientation plays a decisive role in the net energy performance, with an east–west alignment significantly enhancing the PV module’s output and energy efficiency due to better solar exposure. Based on current component costs, electricity prices, and subsidies, the BIPV system demonstrates a moderate annual return, though the relatively long payback period presents a challenge for widespread adoption. East–west orientations offer better returns due to their higher solar exposure. It is recommended to adopt east–west layouts in EPS-filled PV construction to optimize both energy performance and economic performance, while further shortening the payback period through technical and policy support. This study provides an optimized design path for industrial BIPV module integration and aids power infrastructure’s low-carbon shift.