Conference Paper

Proceedings of SimBuild Conference 2024

Reimagining Photovoltaic and Battery Storage Sizing in Energy Codes: Requirements at the Space Function Level

Joe Singer, Eric Shadd, Rahul Athalye, Rob Guglielmetti
NORESCO, United States of America

Abstract: Photovoltaic (PV) and battery storage prescriptive requirements for nonresidential new construction in California’s energy code are specified based on the type of building and do not account for diversity in space floor areas that may be found in buildings of the same type. To improve the way energy codes specify PV and battery sizes, a new method was developed that provides a space function-based approach to PV and battery sizing. This new method uses three modules to (a) optimize PV and battery systems to meet export targets, (b) create a relationship map linking modeled systems to spaces, and (c) proportionally distribute building level PV and battery to modeled spaces. Collectively, these modules create a framework that can be used to specify energy code PV and battery storage sizing requirements based on space function and the relative floor area of various spaces in a specific building or project.
Keywords: photovoltaic, battery storage, load diversity, code requirements
Pages: 257 - 266
Paper: