Evaluation of Available Façade BIPV Area and Power Generation for ZEB Certification of Apartment Buildings

With the recent strengthening of mandatory zero-energy building certification (ZEBc) requirements, Building-Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) systems have become increasingly important as a strategy for overcoming the limited rooftop area of apartment buildings and enhancing energy self-sufficiency.This study systematically quantified façade dimensions according to residential unit type (26, 37, 46, and 55 m 2 ) by analyzing the design drawings of 67 LH apartment complexes in Korea.Standardized module configurations were derived for each façade section to maximize the available installation area, and the corresponding installation capacity and contribution to energy self-sufficiency were evaluated.The façades were classified into five sections: side façades (A), upper and lower window sections (B), inter-window wall sections (C), inter-unit boundary walls (D), and side walls (E).The results showed that the side façade section (A) was the predominant installation area in rental housing, accounting for up to 28.2% of the total available façade area, whereas the upper and lower window sections (B) and inter-window wall sections (C) showed greater utilization potential in sale-type housing.In particular, the 55 m 2 sale-type housing accommodated more than three times as many installable PV cells as rental housing, indicating significantly greater power-generation potential.Based on these results, the analysis of energy self-sufficiency according to ZEB certification grade revealed that ZEB Grade 5 could be achieved by partially utilizing rooftop and façade areas, with only 0.04-0.09kWp of PV capacity required per household.However, for ZEB Grade 2 or higher, the required PV capacity for the 37 and 46 m 2 housing types exceeded the capacity that could be accommodated within 100% of the available household façade area, indicating that additional installation areas, such as side walls, are essential.This study provides an initial investigation into expanding BIPV applications through façade standardization.Future research