The potential of phase change materials in mitigating cooling load of buildings in UAE

Integration of phase change materials (PCM) into building elements is explored extensively in the last decade to reduce air-conditioning demand for indoor thermal comfort. The PCM could absorb and release thermal energy as latent heat in a narrow temperature range. Several experimental studies reported energy saving and indoor temperature drop in summer conditions. However, the matter is sparsely researched in the environment of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a region of high heat flux throughout the year. The current research provides an overview of the integration of PCM in buildings for indoor thermal comfort and energy saving in the UAE. The research highlights the problems of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), e.g. efficiency drop. The significance of the PCM application in the built environment and its research gap is highlighted by reporting all the previous findings on the topic including the application of PCM in glazing, concrete and BIPV.