A holistic approach for assessing architectural integration quality of solar photovoltaic rooftops and shading devices

•Compromises among form and function must be followed to get PV integration quality.•It is important to assess the multifunctionality of PV building integration.•A detailed analysis of each case is crucial to identify more propitious situations.•PV modules as envelope materials can improve the energy performance of buildings.•Vertical PVs are viable in low-latitude sites regarding aesthetics and performance. When used as building construction elements, photovoltaic (PV) systems can be multifunctional. Therefore, they can provide innovative envelope designs that impact energy consumption. PV integration can radically change the form of buildings and cities; thus, their architectural quality must be protected. This work evaluates the integration quality of PV systems, considering constructive, functional, and aesthetical (formal) aspects, contemplating performance criteria set by different stakeholders. The influences of PV integration on the energy performance of buildings, its energy generation, energy yield, Performance Ratio, economic viability, and aesthetical features are assessed. Widely used types of integration are contemplated: PV rooftops and PV shading devices. The approach is described in detail and uses the internationally adopted softwares EnergyPlus®, Rhino®, and PVsyst® to be broadly used by designers. Six case studies of a commercial building in low-latitude sites showed that PV building integration can be used as a strategy to reduce energy consumption, while keeping high energy generation performance, being economically viable, and respecting architecture. Results have emphasized the importance of assessing PV architectural integration quality, showing that a detailed analysis is essential to identify more advantageous situations.