The Colored Building Integrated Photovoltaic Thermal (BIPVT) System is a technology that merges photovoltaic (PV) and thermal systems, simultaneously providing both electrical and thermal energy. Through this combination, more energy is generated per unit surface area in comparison to the standalone photovoltaic system. Benefits of the BIPVT System include significantly increased electrical performance, faster payback than traditional systems, negligible impact on the environment, and the fact that the product is easier and less expensive to install with low maintenance required.

BIPVT systems provide an efficient approach for integrating solar cells/solar thermal panels within building envelopes from different points of view (architectural, physical, engineering). From the engineering point of view, three main items for colored BIPVT could be analyzed, namely: (a) implementation (on roofs or facades); (b) integration (colored solar cells/solar thermal systems, colored front glass, interference coating/filters, ceramic digital printing, colored encapsulants); (c) design development. Physics analysis has to be connected, especially on the materials used for various types of solar cells/solar thermal panels with implications on energy performance and colors. The optical properties of interesting solar cells/solar thermal panels, as well as energetic and aesthetic parameters of colored BIPVT systems, could be studied to achieve optimized technologies. Attractive architectural solutions based on new systems of colored BIPV could be developed; the focus has to be put on combining the minimum primary energy requirements with maximum use benefits. Using the Morpho butterfly effect to investigate photonic structures could be one of the most interesting architectural colored BIPVT approaches to be implemented on a large scale. A figure of merit for colored BIPVT systems could be introduced by the use of a Color Performance Index (CPI), allowing us to compare colors with different lightness.

This Special Issue will focus on BIPVT systems and their applications; the most recent developments in PV technologies for BIPVT applications; new architectural solutions for BIPVT systems; BIPVT systems coupled with heat pumps or with building mechanical systems; active and passive BIPVT systems; experimental, analytical and simulation approach of optical and thermal properties of such systems, together with the performance analysis, and the techno-economic modeling, including life cycle cost analysis and life cycle conversion efficiency.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Spectral characteristics of solar cells, fundamentals and applications
• Architectural structure and design for BIPVT systems
• Green architecture of BIPVT systems
• Building Integrated photovoltaic with thermal energy recovery
• Stand-alone and grid-connected BIPVT
• Optical concentrators for BIPVT, fabrication and optical characterization of BIPVT
• Morpho butterfly effect: interference filters
• Angular resilience of BIPVT systems
• PV windows and facades for BIPVT
• Colored thin-film and colored crystalline BIPVT modules
• BIPVT sun shading, light control and roofing elements
• Visual comfort of BIPVT systems
• Color implementation of BIPVT technology, color efficiency and color encapsulants.
• Digital tools for BIPVT systems