PV ratio for deep renovation

The building sector plays a crucial role in decarbonization, energy transition, and sustainable development strategies, accounting for 40% of global energy consumption and 37% of emissions. Efforts to improve energy efficiency in buildings have been made through standards like the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) in the European Union, resulting in a significant increase in energy-efficient buildings. However, the challenge lies in retrofitting existing buildings, which constitute the majority of the EU building stock and have a slow renewal rate. The EU Renovation Wave strategy aims to accelerate energy renovations in over 35 million buildings. The upcoming review of the EPBD sets the goal of transforming existing buildings into zero-emission structures, emphasizing the exploitation of renewable energy sources. Building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems are recognized for their versatility and reliability and can contribute significantly to energy efficiency policies. However, the actual availability of exploitable surface area for the integration of PV panels in buildings poses a feasibility challenge. This study provides a rough assessment of the potential for BIPV integration in existing buildings, focusing on residential structures. The findings suggest that, according to EPBD new recast, BIPV systems can cover the primary energy consumption of buildings ranging from 1 to 1.5 floors, depending on the climatic zone. However, deep energy retrofit interventions can further enhance energy efficiency, surpassing regulatory requirements. By considering higher, but feasible building energy performance levels, PV coverage potential can be significantly increased.