Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 126871 |
| Journal | Applied energy |
| Volume | 401 |
| Early online date | 8 Oct 2025 |
| Publication status | Published - 15 Dec 2025 |
Abstract
Photovoltaics (PV) is a key technology in the transformation of the energy system with a large share being installed on rooftops. However, suitable roof space is becoming increasingly scarce. PV systems on facades partially remove these space limitations. Facades offer significant additional potential, but their widespread use is hampered by higher costs and lower annual yields. We model the energy system of free-standing buildings in Europe and optimize the dimensioning of system components. We show that the inclusion of a battery storage results in a pronounced increase of the economic value of PV on south-facing facade surfaces. This is because the battery's short-term storage and the seasonally favorable generation profile of facade PV systems complement each other. If there is no south facing roof available for PV, we find facade PV shares greater than 80 % for large parts of Europe to be cost optimal with techno-economic assumptions for 2030. The share of PV on the facades increases further when an additional load for covering the heating and cooling demand is added to the building. PV systems on facades can thus play an important role in the future energy system, particularly in view of falling costs for both PV and battery storage systems. Importantly, we find that with the cost assumptions for 2030 the inclusion of a battery storage lowers the total system costs for all locations across Europe. This decrease in total system costs is particularly pronounced in Southern Europe, reaching up to 44 %.
Keywords
- battery storage, building energy system, facades, optimization, photovoltaic
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Energy(all)
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
- Engineering(all)
- Building and Construction
- Energy(all)
- General Energy
- Engineering(all)
- Mechanical Engineering
- Environmental Science(all)
- Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
Sustainable Development Goals
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In: Applied energy, Vol. 401, 126871, 15.12.2025.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Falling costs for battery storages make facade photovoltaic systems more attractive for prosumers
AU - Bredemeier, Dennis
AU - Mahner, Alexander
AU - Wietler, Tobias
AU - Niepelt, Raphael
AU - Brendel, Rolf
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s)
PY - 2025/12/15
Y1 - 2025/12/15
N2 - Photovoltaics (PV) is a key technology in the transformation of the energy system with a large share being installed on rooftops. However, suitable roof space is becoming increasingly scarce. PV systems on facades partially remove these space limitations. Facades offer significant additional potential, but their widespread use is hampered by higher costs and lower annual yields. We model the energy system of free-standing buildings in Europe and optimize the dimensioning of system components. We show that the inclusion of a battery storage results in a pronounced increase of the economic value of PV on south-facing facade surfaces. This is because the battery's short-term storage and the seasonally favorable generation profile of facade PV systems complement each other. If there is no south facing roof available for PV, we find facade PV shares greater than 80 % for large parts of Europe to be cost optimal with techno-economic assumptions for 2030. The share of PV on the facades increases further when an additional load for covering the heating and cooling demand is added to the building. PV systems on facades can thus play an important role in the future energy system, particularly in view of falling costs for both PV and battery storage systems. Importantly, we find that with the cost assumptions for 2030 the inclusion of a battery storage lowers the total system costs for all locations across Europe. This decrease in total system costs is particularly pronounced in Southern Europe, reaching up to 44 %.
AB - Photovoltaics (PV) is a key technology in the transformation of the energy system with a large share being installed on rooftops. However, suitable roof space is becoming increasingly scarce. PV systems on facades partially remove these space limitations. Facades offer significant additional potential, but their widespread use is hampered by higher costs and lower annual yields. We model the energy system of free-standing buildings in Europe and optimize the dimensioning of system components. We show that the inclusion of a battery storage results in a pronounced increase of the economic value of PV on south-facing facade surfaces. This is because the battery's short-term storage and the seasonally favorable generation profile of facade PV systems complement each other. If there is no south facing roof available for PV, we find facade PV shares greater than 80 % for large parts of Europe to be cost optimal with techno-economic assumptions for 2030. The share of PV on the facades increases further when an additional load for covering the heating and cooling demand is added to the building. PV systems on facades can thus play an important role in the future energy system, particularly in view of falling costs for both PV and battery storage systems. Importantly, we find that with the cost assumptions for 2030 the inclusion of a battery storage lowers the total system costs for all locations across Europe. This decrease in total system costs is particularly pronounced in Southern Europe, reaching up to 44 %.
KW - battery storage
KW - building energy system
KW - facades
KW - optimization
KW - photovoltaic
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105017785540&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.126871
DO - 10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.126871
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105017785540
VL - 401
JO - Applied energy
JF - Applied energy
SN - 0306-2619
M1 - 126871
ER -