Energy Self Sufficiency of a Tall Building with BIPV

Abstract

This study is to test the reality of the big dream of zero-energy skyscrapers. The current state of energy demands of high-rise buildings was investigated. The amount of solar energy that can be harnessed from PV panels installed on the roof
and the south façade of a Seagram size test bed building in New York was estimated. Comparing the quantities of solar
energy produced and the energy demand of the test bed building, the energy self-sufficiency of the building was
analyzed. It was found that, with the current solar PV technology, building integrated PV systems can meet about 4.2%
of the building's energy demand and 7.7% of its electricity demand. From this study, it was concluded that significant
reduction in energy demand is a prerequisite for attaining zero energy large scale buildings.