Role of solar energy in achieving net zero energy neighborhoods

Abstract

This paper aims at determining and highlighting the role of solar energy in achieving net zero energy status, in various neighborhood archetypes. The neighborhoods considered in this study include small neighborhood units and combinations of these units, designed according to sustainable practices in a North American context. The role of solar energy to fulfill the thermal and electrical energy of the studied neighborhoods is compared to other renewable and alternative energy resources such as wind energy, and waste-based energy. Results show that solar energy can play very significant role in fulfilling all electrical needs, even in high density and highly mixed developments, supplying between 36%-100% of the total electrical energy consumption of individual neighborhood units. Optimal combinations of neighborhood units designed to share excess on-site energy generation, assist in achieving net zero electrical energy status of all combinations, relying on roof integrated PV, on the buildings of these neighborhood combinations. Additional landscape area is required in most of the neighborhoods, especially those with higher residential density, to integrate solar thermal collectors that can fulfill the thermal loads of the neighborhood units. The required land area for thermal collectors’ integration changes significantly among neighborhoods, becoming relatively small as compared to the total land of the neighborhood (maximum of 15%), in large neighborhoods composed of optimal combinations of individual neighborhood units.