Energy-Autonomous Cooling of Open Spaces—The Impact of Thermal Comfort Temperature on the Cooperation of the Cooling System with the PV Installation

Ewelina Barnat (), Robert Sekret, Sławomir Rabczak and Justyna Darmochwał-Podoba
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Ewelina Barnat: The Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Architecture, Rzeszow University of Technology, Powstancow Warszawy Street 12, 35-959 Rzeszow, Poland
Robert Sekret: Faculty of Infrastructure and Environment, Czestochowa University of Technology, J.H. Dabrowskiego Street 69, 42-201 Czestochowa, Poland
Sławomir Rabczak: The Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Architecture, Rzeszow University of Technology, Powstancow Warszawy Street 12, 35-959 Rzeszow, Poland
Justyna Darmochwał-Podoba: The Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Architecture, Rzeszow University of Technology, Powstancow Warszawy Street 12, 35-959 Rzeszow, Poland

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 21, 1-23

Abstract: Climate change and rising temperatures in cities due to the urban heat island (UHI) effect are causing increased heat stress and driving the development of efficient, sustainable outdoor cooling systems. The aim of this article was to analyze the integration of adiabatic air cooling systems with photovoltaic (PV) installations in the context of improving thermal comfort and energy autonomy. The study was conducted on the example of a bus station in Rzeszow (Poland), considering two system variants: indirect evaporative cooling and direct evaporative cooling. To assess the impact of comfort parameters on the number of hours of system operation, energy consumption, and operating costs, four upper thermal comfort limits were considered: 22 °C, 22.9 °C, 24 °C, and 25 °C. The results indicate that increasing the upper limit of thermal comfort reduces the operating time of the system and significantly reduces the demand for cooling—for example, increasing the thermal comfort range from 22.9 °C to 24 °C reduces useful energy by 41%. Assuming a thermal comfort range of 25 °C, the direct evaporative cooling system achieves full energy autonomy and is fully powered by photovoltaics. Life cycle analysis (LCA) and life cycle cost (LCC) confirmed the environmental and economic benefits of using higher thermal comfort values. The study highlights the potential of adiabatic cooling systems, in conjunction with a local photovoltaic installation, as an adaptive solution that improves thermal comfort in urban spaces with minimal energy consumption from the grid.

Keywords: adiabatic cooling; photovoltaics; outdoor thermal comfort; urban heat island (UHI); energy autonomy; LCA; LCC; sustainability (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: 2025
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