Optimizing solar energy collection potential in high-rise residential buildings in urban areas

High-rise residential buildings in urban areas face challenges in solar energy collection due to limited roof space, shading from nearby structures, and design constraints. Consequently, the interaction between passive solar gains through windows and active strategies such as photovoltaic (PV) systems plays a pivotal role in optimizing solar collection. This study develops a simulation-based optimization workflow that integrates EnergyPlus with the NSGA-II algorithm to minimize building net energy consumption and the life cycle cost of windows and PV systems on the building envelope, while ensuring thermal comfort as a constraint. Unlike previous studies, the approach considers PV and window design parameters while accounting for practical limitations such as standard PV module dimensions, realistic window sizes, and the variable optimal height for PV installation on each façade, which depends on shading from neighboring buildings.

A case study in Toronto demonstrates that moderately priced PV panels with about 19% nominal efficiency, rooftop PV tilt angles around 32° to reduce snow losses, and higher U-value for high-performance windows offer the best balance of cost and performance. The optimization minimizes window widths to maximize PV coverage, while the optimal PV height varies by orientation, reflecting differences in solar access. Overall, the findings point to design strategies that balance cost, comfort, and energy consumption, offering a pathway for more efficient integration of PV in high-rise buildings.