This study investigates the aerodynamic behavior of roof structures under wind-induced forces, focusing on buildings equipped with photovoltaic panels. Experimental data were obtained through wind tunnel testing of three 1:100 scale models, each representing a distinct roof geometry: gabled, hipped, and multi-pitched. Measurements of dynamic pressure and pressure coefficients were conducted for various wind incidence angles, ranging from 0° to ±150°. The results highlight the impact of roof geometry and PV panel placement on the pressure distribution, with notable variations due to flow separation and vortex formation around the panels. Gabled roofs exhibited pronounced pressure gradients, while hipped roofs showed more uniform distributions. Multi-pitched roofs demonstrated the most complex aerodynamic behavior due to their variable slopes. These findings enhance the understanding of wind-structure interactions for buildings with roof photovoltaic panels, contributing to the development of more resilient and energy-efficient structures. The research supports sustainable construction practices by improving wind load predictions and informing design decisions that promote the safe integration of renewable energy systems into the built environment.

Energy is an essential element in the development of mankind and is the engine that has made possible all the discoveries and innovations of recent decades. It is found behind the comfort we have in everyday life, whether at home, at the office, or when traveling: an optimal temperature in the room, light at anytime, appliances to ease us and make our lives more beautiful. An energy system based on renewable energy has the ability to provide electricity in an economical, sustainable, long-term, non-polluting way and can serve the increasing population. One such example is represented by photovoltaic (PV) panels, which produces electricity from captured solar energy and is one of the solutions considered for reducing energy. The dimensioning of a photovoltaic system, from a technical and economic efficiency point of view, involves the analysis of input data, output data and hence the characteristics of an efficient system. The analysis can be done analytically, but also with the help of dedicated software, the result being, in the end, a safe system in terms of preventive operation and maintenance. In the article was made the dimensioning of a system, analytical and automatic – using software application – to determine if the result obtained – the photovoltaic system – is the same regardless of the method used.

The concept of green energy and sustainability is no longer just an abstract idea intended exclusively for theoretical, numerical and experimental studies, but a “must” of our days. It is a reality that needs to be applied now, not later. Photovoltaic panels are an essential tool in implementing the idea of sustainability, green energy and NZEB (Net Zero Energy Building). Moreover, photovoltaic thermal panels represent the next step, being the main actor in increasing the efficiency of photovoltaic systems. The main challenge is the amount of electrical energy and thermal energy produced by these systems, which leads us to the need to determine the optimal method of cooling the PV. The current working document is intended to be a review of PV cooling methods, how their efficiency is influenced and a preamble for further research on how to optimize photovoltaic / thermal panels integrated in buildings.

This study presents an experimental investigation on the electrical performance, durability, and sustainability of different types of photovoltaic panels subjected to controlled climatic conditions and simulated solar radiation. Four photovoltaic technologies were analyzed, including monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and two semi-flexible panels, to evaluate their behavior under thermal stress. The experimental methodology consisted of repeated freeze–thaw cycles conducted in a double climatic chamber, with temperatures varying between −18 °C and +5 °C. Each panel was subjected to up to 500 cycles designed to reproduce repeated freeze–thaw environmental conditions representative of moderate cold-climate operation. At predefined intervals, the electrical characteristics of the panels were assessed using a solar radiation simulator based on high-pressure mercury vapor lamps, ensuring controlled and repeatable irradiation conditions. The results indicate that all tested panels exhibited relatively stable open-circuit voltage and output current values throughout the investigated thermal cycling interval, with only minor fluctuations observed during the experimental measurements. No visible macroscopic structural degradation and no major variations in the monitored electrical parameters were identified during the investigated testing conditions. Semi-flexible panels demonstrated comparable behavior to rigid panels, highlighting their potential for applications requiring mechanical adaptability. From a sustainability perspective, the observed durability and performance stability contribute to extending the operational lifetime of photovoltaic systems, reducing maintenance needs and material replacement rates. The findings provide comparative experimental observations regarding the evolution of selected electrical parameters under repeated moderate freeze–thaw exposure conditions.

In an ever-changing world and in a geopolitical environment troubled by the struggle for resources, the field of civil engineering and building services plays one of the primary roles, it is one of the main actors in achieving the concept of nZEB. To achieve this goal, green buildings require minimal energy consumption, and photovoltaic thermal panels (PVT) represent an important chapter of study, their improvement and the increase of electrical and thermal efficiency being one of the main concerns. Passive or active cooling systems, with air or water, have several advantages. From a technical and economical point of view it represents the optimal solution for dimensioning and production. Artificial Intelligence (AI), through algorithms of maximum efficiency and access to a huge database, supported by an increasing computing power of computer systems, can make a major contribution to their efficiency by generating, analysing and synthesizing data and information obtained with the help of the mathematical model or experimentally. Artificial Intelligence can also make a decisive contribution to the optimization of a photovoltaic thermal system, by determining the variant with the maximum efficiency from a constructive point of view.