TY - JOUR
T1 - Optimising urban office block morphologies with photovoltaic system integration
T2 - An energy-environment-economic evaluation under climate change scenarios
AU - Li, Gaomei
AU - Zhou, Huangwanjin
AU - Kang, Jian
AU - Shen, Nianjun
AU - Zhong, Hua
AU - Xu, Shen
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Authors
PY - 2025/3/1
Y1 - 2025/3/1
N2 - Climate change significantly affects the urban block energy consumption and photovoltaic (PV) power generation potential. However, current simulations often neglect these effects, which limits the effectiveness of integrated urban block planning with PV systems. This study aims to quantitatively assess the energy-environment-economic (3E) performance of PV systems in various morphological typologies of office blocks under changing climate scenarios. This study proposes a framework using Rhino & Grasshopper to evaluate near-zero energy office block energy demand and supply throughout their life cycle. Using building typology and statistical methods, we classified and modelled 130 office blocks in Wuhan. The 3E performance was analysed using typical meteorological data for the periods 2010–2039, 2040–2069, and 2070–2099. Results indicated a 30.83 % increase in energy consumption and a 16.89 % rise in carbon emissions from the 2020 s to the 2080 s. The PV power generation potential and carbon reduction benefits increased by 8.39 % from the 2020 s to the 2050 s and then decreased by 2.70 % from the 2050 s to the 2080 s. PV systems could reduce carbon emissions by up to 41.31 % over a 30-year lifespan. Under various climatic scenarios, multi-storey enclosed office blocks (MSE) had the shortest economic payback period (14 years), while super high-rise multi-tower clusters (SHRMTC) had the longest (19 years). This research provides a scalable model for dynamically assessing building energy consumption and PV power generation potential, offering a benchmark for retrofitting existing office blocks with PV systems and planning solar integration in new constructions. This enhances climate adaptability and promotes sustainable urban development.
AB - Climate change significantly affects the urban block energy consumption and photovoltaic (PV) power generation potential. However, current simulations often neglect these effects, which limits the effectiveness of integrated urban block planning with PV systems. This study aims to quantitatively assess the energy-environment-economic (3E) performance of PV systems in various morphological typologies of office blocks under changing climate scenarios. This study proposes a framework using Rhino & Grasshopper to evaluate near-zero energy office block energy demand and supply throughout their life cycle. Using building typology and statistical methods, we classified and modelled 130 office blocks in Wuhan. The 3E performance was analysed using typical meteorological data for the periods 2010–2039, 2040–2069, and 2070–2099. Results indicated a 30.83 % increase in energy consumption and a 16.89 % rise in carbon emissions from the 2020 s to the 2080 s. The PV power generation potential and carbon reduction benefits increased by 8.39 % from the 2020 s to the 2050 s and then decreased by 2.70 % from the 2050 s to the 2080 s. PV systems could reduce carbon emissions by up to 41.31 % over a 30-year lifespan. Under various climatic scenarios, multi-storey enclosed office blocks (MSE) had the shortest economic payback period (14 years), while super high-rise multi-tower clusters (SHRMTC) had the longest (19 years). This research provides a scalable model for dynamically assessing building energy consumption and PV power generation potential, offering a benchmark for retrofitting existing office blocks with PV systems and planning solar integration in new constructions. This enhances climate adaptability and promotes sustainable urban development.
KW - Carbon emission reduction
KW - Climate change adaptation
KW - Energy efficiency
KW - Energy-environment-economic analysis
KW - Life cycle assessment
KW - Near-zero carbon
KW - Office blocks
KW - Photovoltaic systems
KW - Sustainable urban development
KW - Urban morphology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85215371560&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.enbuild.2025.115318
DO - 10.1016/j.enbuild.2025.115318
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85215371560
SN - 0378-7788
VL - 330
JO - Energy and Buildings
JF - Energy and Buildings
M1 - 115318
ER -