Thermal management for building-integrated photovoltaics

A wall system for enclosing a portion of a building, the wall system comprising:

• a cassette configured to be attached to a side of a building, wherein the cassette comprises a frame structure;
• and
• one or more adapter structures configured to connect the cassette to the building, wherein when the cassette is connected to, and supported by, the building, the wall system forms a thermal relief region positioned between an infill carried by the cassette and an adjacent portion of the building;
• wherein:
• the frame structure of the cassette comprises (a) one or more first vent openings positioned and configured to allow flow of matter between an interior region of the frame structure of the cassette and the thermal relief region, and (b) one or more second vent openings connected to the interior region;
• the one or more adapter structures comprise one or more third vent openings positioned and configured to allow flow of matter between (a) an external region outside the wall system and the building, and (b) the interior region of the frame structure of the cassette, via the one or more second vent openings;
• and
• the wall system facilitates receiving or expelling airflow through the one or more third vent openings, via the one or more second vent openings, the interior region, the one or more first vent openings, and the thermal relief region.

A method of providing airflow to a building-integrated photovoltaic panel, the method comprising:

• forming a horizontal frame element;
• forming a plurality of openings in the horizontal frame element;
• attaching the horizontal frame element to a building;
• attaching a photovoltaic panel to a first side of the horizontal frame element, wherein the photovoltaic panel has an exterior side configured to face away from a building and a backside facing an opposite direction from the exterior side, and wherein attaching the photovoltaic panel to the first side of the horizontal frame element comprises positioning the plurality of openings in the horizontal frame element between the backside of the photovoltaic panel and an interior of the building;
• forming one or more exterior airflow vents, wherein the one or more exterior airflow vents open to (a) an external region, wherein the exterior side of the photovoltaic panel faces the external region and (b) an interior region of the horizontal frame element within the horizontal frame element, via at least one opening in the horizontal frame element of the plurality of openings in the horizontal frame element;
• and
• positioning the one or more exterior airflow vents to pass airflow between the external region and a thermal relief region adjacent to the backside of the photovoltaic panel via the plurality of openings in the horizontal frame element.