Potential Impacts of Net-Zero Energy Buildings With Distributed Photovoltaic Power Generation on the U.S. Electrical Grid

Abstract

This study evaluates the potential aggregate effects of net-zero energy building (NZEB) implementations on the electrical grid in a simulation-based analysis. To estimate the impact of NZEBs on the electrical grid, a simulation-based study of an office building with a grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) power generation system is conducted. This study assumes that net-metering is available for NZEBs such that the excess on-site PV generation can be fed to the electrical grid. The impact of electrical energy storage (EES) within NZEBs on the electrical grid is also considered in this study. Different levels of NZEB adoption are examined: 20%, 50%, and 100% of the U.S. office building stock. Results indicate that significant penetration of NZEBs could potentially affect the current U.S. electricity demand profiles by reducing purchased electricity from the electrical grid and by increasing exported electricity to the electrical grid during peak hours. Annual electricity consumption of simulated office NZEBs in the U.S. climate locations is in the range of around 94–132 kWh/m2 yr. Comparison of hourly electricity demand profiles for the actual U.S. demand versus the calculated net-demand on a national scales indicates that the peak percentage difference of the U.S. net-electricity demand includes about 10.7%, 15.2%, and 9.3% for 100% of the U.S. NZEB stock on representative summer, transition, and winter days, respectively. Using EES within NZEBs, the peak percentage differences are reduced and shifted to the afternoon, including 8.6%, 13.3%, and 6.3% for 100% of the U.S. NZEB stock on each representative day.