Net Zero Energy Communities: Integrated Power System, Building and Transport Sectors

Haleh Moghaddasi, Charles Culp and Jorge Vanegas
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Haleh Moghaddasi: Department of Architecture, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
Charles Culp: Department of Architecture, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
Jorge Vanegas: Department of Architecture, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 21, 1-33

Abstract: A Net Zero Community (NZC) concept and its energy characteristics are presented in this paper. NZC is an emerging topic with multiple variations in terms of scope and calculated methods, which complicates quantifying its performance. This paper covers three key barriers in achieving NZC targets: (1) the main focus of current definitions on buildings, disregarding community power systems and energy use in transportation; (2) different requirements (source, supply, metrics, etc.) in the existing definitions; and (3) lack of updated published reports to track the progress of committed NZC targets. The importance of this research is summarized as due to increased savings in primary energy and greenhouse gas emissions related to the three main energy sectors, namely power systems, buildings, and transportation (PBT). To clarify the current NZC, this paper reviews: (1) variations in the existing definitions and criteria from peer-reviewed publications; (2) the latest climate projection models by policymakers to achieve net zero by 2050; (3) the literature on renewable-based power systems; and (4) three planned NZC cases in international locations, in order to study their NZC targets, energy performance, and challenges. The outcome highlights NZC design guidelines, including energy efficiency measures, electrification, and renewables in PBT sectors that help stakeholders including policymakers, developers, designers, and engineers speed up achievement of NZC targets.

Keywords: Net Zero Community; energy efficiency measures; electrification; renewable power systems; global energy mix; community energy balance; climate action targets; global warming (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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