Effectiveness of Installing a Photovoltaic System on a High-Density Building in a Hot Climate Zone

Bashar Alfalah ()
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Bashar Alfalah: College of Architecture and Planning, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 16, 1-20

Abstract: There is a growing global emphasis on reducing environmental pollution through innovative clean energy technologies, with photovoltaic systems gaining prominence as a sustainable solution. This study presents an integrated approach, combining advanced architectural modeling and dynamic energy simulation to evaluate the utilization of rooftop photovoltaic panels on a high-density higher educational building in Saudi Arabia. Utilizing detailed modeling involving Autodesk Revit and energy simulation through DesignBuilder to Level of Detail 3, the research provides unprecedented accuracy, validated against actual energy consumption data with a remarkable 92.28% precision. Notably, approximately 60% of the rooftop area is identified as suitable for photovoltaic installation, demonstrating a significant capacity to generate 1,028,494.50 kWh annually, covering 61.7% of the building’s energy needs. Financial analysis reveals robust economic benefits, including annual savings of USD 74,938.84, a payback period of under 7 years, and lifetime savings exceeding USD 1.87 million over 25 years. Seasonal variations and surplus energy during winter months are also detailed, highlighting the system’s resilience. Importantly, this study aligns with Saudi Arabia’s “Vision 2030” by showcasing the feasibility and strategic importance of rooftop photovoltaic solutions in urban educational settings within hot-climate regions, offering a pioneering contribution to sustainable urban energy planning.

Keywords: building energy consumption; simulation model; high-density building; photovoltaic system; renewable energy; hot climate zone (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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