• Energy Research

The phenomenon of global change is prompting the implementation of measures aimed at mitigating various effects, with humans being primarily impacted. The objective of this investigation is to analyse the potential self-sufficiency in the built environment through the utilisation of energy generated by photovoltaic systems. These systems have the capacity to reduce or even eliminate the reliance on grid electricity and non-renewable energy sources. The study commences with the delineation of eight neighbourhoods within the city of Madrid, Spain, each characterised by a distinct building typology. In order to ascertain the degree of self-sufficiency, this study calculates the energy production from solar photovoltaic systems installed on rooftops, and then proceeds to assess the energy consumption of each building. The results of the analysis demonstrate the capacity of photovoltaic installations to meet the electricity demands of buildings, such as single-family houses, almost completely, and partially in others, such as multi-family dwellings with multiple units per floor. Furthermore, the impact of differences in building height and urban context on self-sufficiency potential is explored.

The current climate emergency makes it imperative to take action to halt the irreversible destruction of the planet, with the renovation of existing buildings playing a crucial role. In Europe, particularly in Spain, energy efficiency improvements in existing buildings are undertaken in only a small fraction of cases. This gap presents a valuable opportunity to implement measures that encourage such interventions. To enhance energy production and tackle this issue from a distributed energy perspective, building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems emerge as a key solution. In this context, the primary objective of this research is to enhance the visibility and promote the adoption of BIPV systems in building energy retrofitting through the development of a standardised action framework for their installation across distinct typological clusters. To achieve this objective, a comprehensive and systematic analysis was undertaken to construct a classification that most accurately and exhaustively represents the Spanish building stock. The analysis resulted in the identification of 15 typological clusters, which, based on shared formal attributes, were consolidated into 3 principal clusters. For each of these three primary groups, a tailored action guide for BIPV system implementation was developed, addressing their specific characteristics and highlighting the critical factors to be considered in each case. To illustrate the practical application of the proposed framework, a representative case study was selected and subjected to an in-depth analysis, resulting in a detailed proposal for BIPV system installations on both the façade and the roof. In this regard, this research develops an initial procedural framework that comprehensively represents diverse building typologies, providing a structured protocol for the integration of BIPV systems within the context of energy retrofit interventions.