Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Department of Civil Engineering, Chalous Branch, Islamic Azad University, P. O. Box: 46615-397, Chalous, Mazandaran, Iran.

Abstract

One of the main reasons of environmental pollution is energy consumption in buildings. Today, the use of renewable energy sources is increasing dramatically. Among these sources, solar energy has favorable costs for various applications. This study examined a commercial building in a hot and humid climate. The findings showed that choosing the optimal angle of solar panels with the goal of optimized energy consumption would yield reduced costs and less environmental pollutants with the least cost and maximum energy absorption. In this study, to calculate the energy requirements of the building, DesignBuilder software was used. To study the solar angles and estimate the energy produced by the solar panels, Polysun software was used after simulating the building energy. Energy simulation results showed that the whole building energy consumption was 26604 kWh/year. Finally, the evaluation results of solar panels showed that the energy produced by photovoltaic modules at an optimal angle of 31° would be equal to 26978 kWh/year, which is more than the energy required by the building. This system can prevent 14471 kg of carbon dioxide emissions annually. Sustainable energy criteria showed that for the studied building, photovoltaic modules could be used in energy production to reach a zero-energy system connected to the grid with an annual energy balance.

Keywords

Main Subjects

1.     Amani, N., "Building energy conservation in atrium spaces based on ECOTECT simulation software in hot summer and cold winter zone in Iran", International Journal of Energy Sector Management, Vol. 122, (2018), 98-313. (https://doi.org/10.1108/IJESM-05-2016-0003).
2.     Amani, N. and Reza Soroush, A.A., "Effective energy consumption parameters in residential buildings using Building Information Modeling", Global Journal of Environmental Science and Management (GJESM), Vol. 6, No. 4, (2020), 467-480. (https://doi.org/10.22034/gjesm.2020.04.04).
3.     Halawa, E., Ghaffarianhoseini, A., Ghaffarianhoseini, A., Trombley, J., Hassan, N., Safiah, M., Yusoff., Y. and Ismail, M.A., "A review on energy conscious designs of building façades in hot and humid climates: Lessons for (and from) Kuala Lumpur and Darwin", Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol. 82, (2018), 2147-2161. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.08.061).
4.     Omidi Avaj, M. and Bagheri, Z., "Use of new technologies in the management of building energy with an emphasis on solar energy", Proceedings of 1st Annual Conference on Architecture and Urban Planning in Iran, (2015). (In Farsi). (https://www.civilica.com/Paper-AAUC01-AAUC01_095.html).
5.     Hajizadeh, A. and Ijadi, H., "Maximum power point tracking of photovoltaic power generation system based on fuzzy approximation of operating point voltage with radiation intensity", Computational Intelligence in Electrical Engineering (Intelligent Systems in Electrical Engineering), Vol. 3, (2012), 73-86. (In Farsi). (https://www.sid.ir/fa/Journal/ViewPaper.aspx?ID=193671).
6.     Gharakhani Siraki, A. and Pillay, P., "Study of optimum tilt angles for solar panels in different latitudes for urban applications", Solar Energy, Vol. 86, (2012), 1920-1928. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2012.02.030).
7.     Schuster, C.S., "The quest for the optimum angular-tilt of terrestrial solar panels or their angle-resolved annual insolation", Renewable Energy, Vol. 152, (2020), 1186-1191. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2020.01.076).
8.     Ahmed, M.M.S., Abel-Rahman, A.K. and Ali, A.H.H., "Development of intelligent façade based on outdoor environment and indoor thermal comfort", Procedia Technology, Vol. 19, (2015), 742-749. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.protcy.2015.02.105).
9.     Horváth, M. and Csoknyai, T., "Evaluation of solar energy calculation methods for 45° inclined, south facing surface", Energy Procedia, Vol. 78, (2015), 465-470. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2015.11.700).
10.   Ben Othman, A., Belkilani, K. and Besbes, M., "Global solar radiation on tilted surfaces in Tunisia: Measurement, estimation and gained energy assessments", Energy Reports, Vol. 4, (2018), 101-109. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2017.10.003).
11.   Borna, R., "Study of climate conditions affecting the tourism Khuzestan Province using TCI", Quarterly of Geography (Regional Planning), Vol. 8, (2018), 107-118. (In Farsi). (http://www.jgeoqeshm.ir/article_61486.html).
12.   Ifaei, P., Karbassi, A., Lee, S. and Yoo, C.K., "A renewable energies-assisted sustainable development plan for Iran using techno-econo-socio-environmental multivariate analysis and big data", Energy Conversion and Management,Vol. 153, (2017), 257-277. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2017.10.014).
13.   Karbassi, A.R., Abduli, M.A. and Mahin Abdollahzadeh, E., "Sustainability of energy production and use in Iran", Energy Policy, Vol. 35, (2007), 5171-5180. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2007.04.031).
14.   Saghafi, M.J. and Hajizadeh, M., "Thermal performance of common clay blocks external wall system in Iran", Honar-Ha-Ye-Ziba Memari-Va-Shahrsazi, Vol. 17, (2012), 49–54. (In Farsi). (https://jfaup.ut.ac.ir/article_29696_6f7015b21e396f4a0be080fe670bf996.pdf).
15.   Ifaei, P., Karbassi, A., Jacome, G. and Yoo, C.K., "A systematic approach of bottom-up assessment methodology for an optimal design of hybrid solar/wind energy resources–Case study at middle east region", Energy Conversion and Management, Vol. 145, (2017), 138-157. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2017.04.097).
16.   Karbassi, A.R., Abduli, M.A. and Neshastehriz, S., "Energy saving in Tehran international flower exhibition’s building", International Journal of Environmental Research, Vol. 2, (2008), 75-86. (https://doi.org/10.22059/IJER.2010.179).
17.   Amani, N., "Energy simulation and management of the main building component materials using comparative analysis in a mild climate zone", Journal of Renewable Energy and Environment (JREE), Vol. 7, No. 3, (2020), 29-46. (https://doi.org/10.30501/JREE.2020.227079.1101).
18.   Movahhed, Y., Safari, A., Motamedi, S. and Haghighi Khoshkhoo, R., "Simultaneous use of PV system and green roof: A techno-economic study on power generation and energy consumption", Energy Procedia, Vol. 15, (2019), 478-483. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2018.12.037).
19.   Wang, D., Qi, T., Liu, Y., Wang, Y., Fan, J. and Du, H., "A method for evaluating both shading and power generation effects of rooftop solar PV panels for different climate zones of China", Solar Energy, Vol. 205, (2020), 432-445. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2020.05.009).
20.   Albadry, S., Tarabieh, Kh. and Sewilam, H., "Achieving net zero-energy buildings through retrofitting existing residential buildings using PV panels", Energy Procedia, Vol. 115, (2017), 195-204. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.05.018).
21.   Deltenre, Q., De Troyer, T. and Runacres., M.C., "Performance assessment of hybrid PV-wind systems on high-rise rooftops in the Brussels-Capital region", Energy and Buildings, Vol. 224, (2020), 110137. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2020.110137).
22.   Pinamonti, M. and Baggio, P., "Energy and economic optimization of solar-assisted heat pump systems with storage technologies for heating and cooling in residential buildings", Renewable Energy, Vol. 157, )2020(, 90-99. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2020.04.121).
23.   Sivaram, P.M., Mande, A.B., Premalatha, M. and Arunagiri, A., "Investigation on a building-integrated passive solar energy technology for air ventilation, clean water and power", Energy Conversion and Management, Vol. 211, (2020), 112739. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2020.112739).
24.   Fitriaty, P. and Shen, Z., "Predicting energy generation from residential building attached photovoltaic cells in a tropical area using 3D modeling analysis", Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 195, (2018), 1422-1436. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.02.133).
25.   Thotakura, S., Kondamudi, S.C., Xavier, J.F., Quanjin, M., Reddy, G. R., Gangwar, P. and Davuluri, S.L., "Operational performance of megawatt-scale grid integrated rooftop solar PV system in tropical wet and dry climates of India", Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, Vol. 18, (2020), 100602. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csite.2020.100602).
26.   Irshad, K., Habib, K., Saidur, R., Kareem, M.W. and Saha, B.B., "Study of thermoelectric and photovoltaic facade system for energy efficient building development: A review", Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 209, (2019), 1376-1395. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.09.245).
27.   Toledo, C., López-Vicente, R., Abad, J. and Urbina, A., "Thermal performance of PV modules as building elements: Analysis under real operating conditions of different technologies", Energy and Buildings, Vol. 223, (2020), 110087. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2020.110087).
28.   Mewes, D., Monsalve, P., Gustafsson, I., Hasan, B., Palén, J., Nakakido, R., Capobianchi, E. and Österlund, B., "Evaluation methods for photovoltaic installations on existing buildings at the KTH campus in Stockholm, Sweden", Energy Procedia, Vol. 115, (2017), 409-422. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.05.038).
29.   Couty, P., Lalou, M.J., Cuony, P., Cotture, S. and Saade, V., "Positive energy building with PV facade production and electrical storage designed by the Swiss team for the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2017", Energy Procedia, Vol. 122, (2017), 919-924. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.07.410).
30.   Office of National Building Regulations, "National building regulations of Iran, Energy saving", Article 19, Iran Development Publishing, (2010), 70. (In Farsi). (http://inbr.ir/?page_id=2032).
31.   Statistical Centre of Iran, "Iran statistical yearbook", Statistical yearbook of Khuzestan province, Chapter One, Land and climate, Statistical Centre of Iran, (2016), 51. (In Farsi). (https://nnt.sci.org.ir/sites/Apps/yearbook/Lists/year_book_req/Item/newifs.aspx).
32.   Asakereh, A., Ghadiryanfar, M. and Sheikhdavoodi, M., "The feasibility of electricity production by using rooftop solar panels in rural areas of Khuzestan Province", Quarterly of Geography and Development, Vol. 14, (2016), 113-132.  (In Farsi). (https://doi.org/10.22111/gdij.2016.2483).
33.   Chaudhari, M., Frantzis, L. and Hoff, T.E., "PV grid connected market potential under a cost breakthrough scenario", Navigant Consulting Inc., No. 117373. (2004). (http://www.energycrisis.com/apollo2/photovoltaics/PVMktPotentialCostBreakthruNavigant200409.pdf).
34.   Paidipati, J., Frantzis, L., Sawyer, H. and Kurrasch, A., "Rooftop photovoltaics market penetration scenarios", National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), No. SR-581-42306, (2008). (https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy08osti/42306.pdf).
35.   La Gennusa, M., Lascari, G., Rizzo, G., Scaccianoce, G. and Sorrentino, G., "A model for predicting the potential diffusion of solar energy systems in complex urban environments", Energy Policy, Vol. 39, (2011), 5335-5343. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2011.05.031).
36.   Yue, C.D. and Wang, S.S., "GIS-based evaluation of multifarious local renewable energy sources: A case study of the Chigu area of southwestern Taiwan", Energy Policy, Vol. 34, (2006), 730-742. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2004.07.003).
37.   Management and Planning Organization, "Guide to designing photovoltaic systems to supply electrical energy divided by climate and application (Rule No. 667)", Technical System Affairs Department, Vol. 101, (2014), 12. (In Farsi). (http://www.satba.gov.ir/suna_content/media/image/2015/09/3922_orig.pdf).
38.   Yadav, A.K. and Chandel, S.S., "Tilt angle optimization to maximize incident solar radiation: A review", Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol. 23, (2013), 503-513. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2013.02.027).
39.   Yadav, P. and Chandel, S.S., "Comparative analysis of diffused solar radiation models for optimum tilt angle determination for Indian locations", Applied Solar Energy, Vol. 50, (2014), 53-59. (https://doi.org/10.3103/S0003701X14010137).
40.   Chandel, S.S. and Aggarwal, R.K., "Performance evaluation of a passive solar building in Western Himalayas", Renewable Energy, Vol. 33, (2008), 2166-2173. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2008.01.008).