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Duet of solar energy and energy efficiency and its role for net zero energy buildings

Panel: 6. Policies and programmes towards a zero-energy building stock

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Author:
Ksenia Petrichenko, UNEP DTU, Copenhagen Centre on Energy Efficiency

Abstract

A net zero-energy building (NZEB) is usually understood as a highly energy efficient building, in which the remaining energy demand is supplied with renewable energy.

Solar energy is often considered as the most widely available source of renewable energy for buildings, while energy efficiency is perceived as a necessary prerequisite for achieving net zero energy status of a building.

This paper aims at demonstrating the importance of the synergies between energy efficiency and solar energy in transition towards NZEBs. In order to achieve this goal both building energy demand and potential solar energy supply in buildings have been estimated.

Building energy demand has been analyzed based on the bottom-up energy model, developed by 3CSEP and data inputs from BUENAS model for different regions, climate zones and building types under two scenarios with different levels of ambition in terms of energy efficiency. A comprehensive model has been developed in order to estimate technical potential of advanced building-integrated hybrid solar energy technologies taking into account various geographical, architectural, morphological and climatic parameters. This model is based on a novel methodology combining bottom-up energy modelling with geospatial analysis and outstanding visualisation techniques.

The results of the analysis demonstrate that achievement of advanced energy efficiency levels is crucial for solar-supplied net zero energy buildings in a number of building types and regions. It significantly increases the share of building energy needs, which can be met by solar energy. In a number of developing regions with abundance of solar energy, energy efficiency can not only help to achieve NZE status in certain building types, but also reduce the size of the solar systems and/or even make buildings energy exporters.

The paper advocates for the importance of policy actions, which package together energy efficiency and solar energy. It is particularly important for developing countries, which usually have significant solar energy resources available throughout the year, potential of which is often remain unrealized.

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