Shaping Urban Block Building Form to Correlate PV Production with Electricity Demand
Publication: Computing in Civil Engineering 2023
ABSTRACT
Incorporating building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems at the urban level can reduce emissions and increase clean electricity generation. However, these systems face challenges in matching electricity demand and supply, particularly during peak demand. A proposed solution is optimizing the orientation of BIPV panels, but this can be challenging due to limited space available for panels, self-shading, and difficulties integrating panels into the building façade. This paper proposes a framework that simultaneously optimizes both BIPV orientations and building forms while considering the energy demand of the urban block. The approach is demonstrated through a case study of six mid-rise apartment buildings in California. The process sought to minimize overgeneration of energy while minimizing the system payback period. Depending on designer priorities, quality designs can have a payback period ranging from 0 to 18 years and overgeneration between 0% and 30%. The methodology offers a performance-driven design optimization technique for BIPV systems at the urban level.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this chapter.
REFERENCES
Brown, N. C., V. Jusiega, and C. T. Mueller. 2020. “Implementing Data-Driven Parametric Building Design with a Flexible Toolbox.” Automation in Construction 118 (October): 103252.
Dahlhausen, M. 2020. “Openstudio-Standards.”. February 25, 2020.
DECC. 2012. Solar PV (Electricity Systems) and the National Grid: A Briefing Note for DECC. 2012.
DOE, US. 2015. Revolution… Now: The Future Arrives for Five Clean Energy Technologies - 2015 Update.
Eber, K., and D. Corbus. 2013. “Hawaii Solar Integration Study: Executive Summary.”.
EnergySage. 2020. 2020 Cost of Solar Panels in California. 2020.
EnergySage. 2022. “Most Efficient Solar Panels: Solar Panel Efficiency Explained |EnergySage.”. April 5, 2022.
Freitas, S., and M. C. Brito. 2019. “Non-Cumulative Only Solar Photovoltaics for Electricity Load-Matching.” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 109 (July): 271–83.
Freitas, S., C. Reinhart, and M. C. Brito. 2018. “Minimizing Storage Needs for Large Scale Photovoltaics in the Urban Environment.” Solar Energy 159 (January): 375–89.
Hachem, C. 2015. “Design of a Base Case Mixed-Use Community and Its Energy Performance.” In Energy Procedia, 78:663–68. Elsevier.
Jadidbonab, M., A. Dolatabadi, B. Mohammadi-Ivatloo, M. Abapour, and S. Asadi. 2019. “Risk-Constrained Energy Management of PV Integrated Smart Energy Hub in the Presence of Demand Response Program and Compressed Air Energy Storage.” IET Renewable Power Generation 13 (6): 998–1008.
Kurdi, Y., B. J. Alkhatatbeh, and S. Asadi. 2022. “The Role of Demand Energy Profile on the Optimum Layout of Photovoltaic System in Commercial Buildings.” Energy and Buildings 271 (September): 112320.
Kurdi, Y., B. J. Alkhatatbeh, S. Asadi, and H. Jebelli. 2022. “A Decision-Making Design Framework for the Integration of PV Systems in the Urban Energy Planning Process.” Renewable Energy 197 (September): 288–304.
Liu, C., W. Xu, A. Li, D. Sun, and H. Huo. 2019. “Analysis and Optimization of Load Matching in Photovoltaic Systems for Zero Energy Buildings in Different Climate Zones of China.” Journal of Cleaner Production 238 (Nov): 117914.
Moshövel, J., K.-P. Kairies, D. Magnor, M. Leuthold, M. Bost, S. Gährs, E. Szczechowicz, M. Cramer, and D. Uwe Sauer. 2015. “Analysis of the Maximal Possible Grid Relief from PV-Peak-Power Impacts by Using Storage Systems for Increased Self-Consumption.” Applied Energy 137 (January): 567–75.
NREL. 2016. Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Technical Potential in the United States: A Detailed Assessment. Nrel.
REN21. 2019. Renewbles in Cities - 2019 Global Status Report.
Richardson, D. B., and L. D. D. Harvey. 2015. “Strategies for Correlating Solar PV Array Production with Electricity Demand.” Renewable Energy 76 (April): 432–40.
Robert McNeel & Associates. 2007. “Grasshopper.” 2007. https://www.grasshopper3d.com/.
Snape, J. R. 2016. “Spatial and Temporal Characteristics of PV Adoption in the UK and Their Implications for the Smart Grid.” Energies 9 (3): 1–18.
SCE (Southern California Edison). 2020. Time-Of-Use Residential Rate Plans | Rates | Your Home | Home - SCE. 2020.
Touloupaki, E., and T. Theodosiou. 2017. “Performance Simulation Integrated in Parametric 3D Modeling as a Method for Early Stage Design Optimization—A Review.” Energies 10 (5): 637.
US EIA (US Energy Information Administration). 2018. How Much Energy Is Consumed in U.S. Residential and Commercial Buildings? - FAQ - US Energy Information Administration (EIA). F.A.Q.s, 2018.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
History
Published online: Jan 25, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Architectural engineering
- Building systems
- Buildings
- Case studies
- Electric power
- Electrical systems
- Energy engineering
- Energy sources (by type)
- Engineering fundamentals
- Infrastructure
- Methodology (by type)
- Panels (structural)
- Renewable energy
- Research methods (by type)
- Solar power
- Structural engineering
- Structural members
- Structural systems
- Structures (by type)
- Urban and regional development
- Urban areas
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.