The Energy Performance and Techno-Economic Analysis of Zero Energy Bill Homes

Abstract

In the past 12 years, the United Kingdom (UK) has made significant progress in making domestic dwellings more efficient. Presently, the domestic sector is required to meet the UK’s net-zero target in new and renovated dwellings by 2050. As a measure in this on-going determination, the UK has constructed a number of Zero Energy Bill Homes (ZEBH) in Corby, Northamptonshire, which is currently a part of the European Union District of Future Project. For the effectiveness of a zero energy bill performance, a solar photovoltaic thermal-assisted heat pump (SPVTAH) was modelled, which represented building modelling, emphasising the essential outcomes through energy demand profiles (electricity, space heat, and domestic hot water), and occupant behaviour. To authenticate the building modelling, the baseline models were calibrated using the weekly electricity-use curve and validated using statistical indices. It is inferred that the evidence-based manual calibration technique has fairly validated the energy-use profiles of the chosen case studies and is found to be within acceptable tolerance levels. In addition, to verify the zero-energy bill status of the buildings, an economic analysis was extremely crucial. A feasibility assessment indicated that the ZEBH concept will be impractical if the UK government subsidies are withdrawn. Moreover, the Net Present Value analysis further signified that although SPVTAH seemingly generates revenues, the initial investment turned out to be the largest barrier to repay for the system. However, it was proven that the renewable energy technology operational in the domestic dwellings of the UK does offer major advantages, and reduction in costs appears to be the most significant one.