Design-management and planning for photovoltaic cladding systems within the UK construction industry: An optimal and systematic approach to procurement and installation of building integrated photovoltaics: An agenda for the 21st century

Integrated Definition for Functional Modelling (IDEF) methodology has been used in this research to capture the functional activities and processes as obtained within the UK Construction Industry, conventional Cladding Sector and The Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) cladding sector. This is hoped, would provide a framework for the optimal re-engineering of the design-management and installation planning of BIPV systems within the UK Construction Industry. Interest in renewable energy has surged worldwide in the 1990s, despite continuing low International energy prices. The primary reason for this enhancement of interest includes impressive technical advancement, environmental pressures, particularly climate change and broader sustainability concerns. The integration of photovoltaic (PV) technology into the fabric of a building is seen as the most promising application of PV in many industrialised countries because of the design possibilities and the potential benefits of embedded electricity generation, (ETSU (1998(2)). However, a major factor deterring the take-up of Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) cladding is the cost. A BIPV cladding system costs approximately E900/m2, including Balance Of System (BOS) costs. There are major efforts at R&D and manufacturing process levels to develop PV systems of suitable performance and a reduced overall cost for widespread deployment, Pearsall (1999). There is substantial on-going research in the areas of 'Device for solar energy capture', 'Integrated electronics power conditioning' and 'Balance of System' components development. Hitherto, very little has been undertaken in the area of design and installation process development and optimisation. The optimisation of design-management and planning processes, is hoped, would lead to: reduction in installation time, eliminating of non-valued added activities, improved quality and confidence in BIPV installation processes. These are intended to ensuring client satisfaction and also increasing the number of future projects. The present research is therefore focused on the development of a rational integrated framework for design-management and planning activities for projects involving BIPV work package(s) within the UK construction industry. A proposed innovative design-management model is developed for construction activities aimed at encouraging integration. Optimally lean functions for BIPV installation procedures were determined. The prerequisite of this approach was the use of System Architect / Business Process Re-engineering (SA/BPR) methodology, which supports IDEF (Integrated DEfinition for Functional) modelling techniques. SA/BPR methodology was used to tackle the arbitrariness in the design-management and planning process that was militate against effective and efficient integration. This research project starts by investigating and analysing the problems associated with existing-design-management processes and systems. The need to review and re-engineer the existing processes is client driven, (Latham (1994), Egan (1998)). The quest to develop an appropriate framework and architecture capable of integrating design, specification, estimation and planning processes, devoid of the arbitrariness found in existing processes and sub-processes is client centred and geared towards raising the aspiration of all those who might be involved with the project. Evidence suggests that BIPV installation, design-management and planning processes can be more complex than conventional cladding installation. Against this background, a specification has been developed for a proposed 'decision support system/tool', intended to support design-management and planning of a BIPV façade and system design choices and component selection. This research also contributes to the Best Practice Guide checklist of the design planning and installation of BIPV facades. A review of the major renewable energy technologies was carried on in the first part of this thesis. Building procurement system and resource management and the UK cladding sector supply chain was dealt with in the second part of this thesis. Existing design-management and planning processes within the UK construction industry is reviewed and re-engineered in the third part of the thesis. Proposed innovative BIPV design-management and planning models are developed and tested, using IDEF methodology. The Sir Michael Latham and Sir John Egan's task force recommendations were used as a framework for the development process.