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Green and cool roof choices integrated into rooftop solar energy modelling

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  • Cavadini, Giovan Battista
  • Cook, Lauren M.

Abstract

Due to their cooling ability, sustainable roofing configurations, such as green and cool roofs, have the potential to increase solar panel yield, which is temperature dependent. However, the influence of sustainable roofing configurations on panel yield is not yet considered in rooftop photovoltaic (PV) planning models; thus, the significance of these integrated systems cannot be evaluated. In order to quantify the potential benefits of sustainable rooftops on solar energy, the first goal of this study is to develop a method that systematically accounts for roof surface characteristics in the simulation of PV panel energy yield. To do so, a rooftop energy balance model is linked with a physically-based solar energy model (the System Advisor Model, SAM) to quantify the energy yield of PV installations on sustainable roofing configurations. Roof surface temperatures are first estimated using non-linear energy balance equations, then integrated into a revised version of SAM to simulate energy yield. This new method improves the accuracy of PV yield simulations, compared to prior assumptions of roof surface temperature equal to ambient temperature. This updated model is used for the second goal of the study, to understand how four roofing configurations (black membrane, rock ballasted, white membrane, and vegetated) influence PV panel yield, which is currently not well understood in cooler climates. For a flat rooftop PV installation near Zurich, Switzerland (temperate climate), results show that, compared to a conventional roof, green roofs can increase annual PV energy yield, on average, by 1.8%, whereas cool roofs can increase it by 3.4%. For the case-study installation, an inverse correlation between the 95th-quantile roof surface temperature and the PV energy yield was identified; an increase of 1 °C leads to a 71 kWh reduction in energy yield per year. Overall, cool roofs outperform green roofs in terms of increases in PV energy yield; however, potential improvements of both systems are non-negligible, even in relatively cooler climate regions like Switzerland. By providing a systematic method to evaluate the influence of the roofing configuration on PV energy yield, solar energy planners are able to differentiate between the benefits of traditional and sustainable rooftop configurations - the first step towards the coupling of distributed energy and sustainable building systems. In the future, this integrated method could be used as part of a holistic evaluation of the environmental, economic, and social objectives of green and cool roofs, as well as, other infrastructure systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Cavadini, Giovan Battista & Cook, Lauren M., 2021. "Green and cool roof choices integrated into rooftop solar energy modelling," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 296(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:296:y:2021:i:c:s0306261921005341
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.117082
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    2. Dewi, Retno Gumilang & Siagian, Ucok Welo Risma & Asmara, Briantama & Anggraini, Syahrina Dyah & Ichihara, Jun & Kobashi, Takuro, 2023. "Equitable, affordable, and deep decarbonization pathways for low-latitude developing cities by rooftop photovoltaics integrated with electric vehicles," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 332(C).
    3. Jaykumar Joshi & Akhilesh Magal & Vijay S. Limaye & Prima Madan & Anjali Jaiswal & Dileep Mavalankar & Kim Knowlton, 2022. "Climate change and 2030 cooling demand in Ahmedabad, India: opportunities for expansion of renewable energy and cool roofs," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 27(7), pages 1-17, October.
    4. Li, Biao & Lei, Chen & Zhang, Wenpu & Olawoore, Victor Samuel & Shuai, Yong, 2024. "Numerical model study on influences of photovoltaic plants on local microclimate," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    5. Boccalatte, Alessia & Thebault, Martin & Paolini, Riccardo & Fossa, Marco & Ramousse, Julien & Ménézo, Christophe & Santamouris, Mattheos, 2023. "Assessing the combined effects of local climate and mounting configuration on the electrical and thermal performance of photovoltaic systems. Application to the greater Sydney area," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 219(P1).

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