Optimisation of photovoltaic systems for different applications

Photovoltaic (PV) deployment is entering a new phase of diversification. Ground-mounted systems have driven the rapid global expansion of solar power, but future growth will also increasingly rely on solutions that integrate electricity generation into existing infrastructure and land use. These include building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), floating photovoltaics (FPV), and agrivoltaics (AV), which address land competition while also supporting urban decarbonization, enabling water–energy synergies, and advancing sustainable agricultural production. However, these applications differ fundamentally from conventional PV installations. They operate in complex environments, perform multiple functions, and involve a broader range of stakeholders, including architects, farmers, water authorities, and local communities. Consequently, traditional PV design approaches developed primarily for ground-mounted systems are no longer sufficient. A previous IEA PVPS Task 13 report assessed the influence of climate on PV performance and reliability. The present report expands this perspective by showing that the application context has become an equally important design driver. Integrated PV systems must simultaneously ensure reliable electricity generation, compatibility with buildings, water bodies or agricultural activities, long service lifetimes with predictable financial performance, and environmental and social acceptance. Meeting these requirements necessitates a shift from singlemetric optimisation, primarily focused on energy yield and cost, to a multidimensional performance framework.