Next Article in Journal
Soil Properties, Processes, Ecological Services and Management Practices of Mediterranean Riparian Systems
Previous Article in Journal
Assessment of Social Welfare Impacts and Cost–Benefit Analysis for Regulations on Cattle Manure Treatment
 
 
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Technical, Economic, and Environmental Assessment of the High-Rise Building Facades as Locations for Photovoltaic Systems

by
Andreja Stefanović
1,
Ivana Rakonjac
2,
Dorin Radu
3,*,
Marijana Hadzima-Nyarko
4 and
Christiana Emilia Cazacu
3
1
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kosovo and Metohija Academy of Applied Studies, Dositeja Obradovića bb, 38218 Leposavić, Serbia
2
Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra 73/II, 11120 Belgrade, Serbia
3
Faculty of Civil Engineering, Transilvania University of Brasov, Turnului Street no.5, 500152 Brasov, Romania
4
Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Vladimira Preloga 3, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sustainability 2025, 17(19), 8844; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17198844
Submission received: 23 August 2025 / Revised: 26 September 2025 / Accepted: 28 September 2025 / Published: 2 October 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Engineering and Science)

Abstract

High-rise building facades offer an alternative site for installing photovoltaic panels, which are traditionally placed on rooftops. The unique spatial configuration of high-rise buildings, characterized by a small footprint area relative to their height, supports the application of vertical facades for this purpose. Photovoltaic panels installed in these areas not only generate electricity but also enhance the aesthetic dimension of the urban landscape. The proposed methodology uses the EnergyPlus software to simulate the electricity generation of photovoltaic panels mounted on the walls of high-rise buildings in the city of Kragujevac, Serbia. A technical, economic, and environmental analysis was conducted for two scenarios: (1) photovoltaic panels installed on two facade areas with the highest solar potential, and (2) photovoltaic panels installed on all four available facade areas. In Scenario 1, the annual reduction in electricity consumption, annual cost savings in electricity consumption, and investment payback period range from 13 to 38%, 11 to 31%, and 8.4 to 10.6 years, respectively. In Scenario 2, these values range from 23 to 58%, 18 to 47%, and 10.9 to 12.9 years, respectively. The results indicate that southeast and southwest facades consistently achieve higher levels of electricity generation, underscoring the importance of prioritizing high-performing orientations rather than maximizing overall surface coverage. The methodology is particularly efficient for analyzing the solar potential of numerous buildings with comparable shapes, which is a characteristic commonly found in Eastern European architecture from the late 20th century. The study demonstrates the applicability of the proposed methodology as a practical and adaptable tool for assessing early-stage solar potential and providing decision support in urban energy planning. The approach addresses the identified methodological gap by offering a low-cost, flexible framework for assessing solar potential across diverse urban contexts and building typologies, while significantly simplifying the modeling process.
Keywords: high-rise buildings; photovoltaic panels; simulation; EnergyPlus; modeling-based assessment high-rise buildings; photovoltaic panels; simulation; EnergyPlus; modeling-based assessment

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Stefanović, A.; Rakonjac, I.; Radu, D.; Hadzima-Nyarko, M.; Cazacu, C.E. Technical, Economic, and Environmental Assessment of the High-Rise Building Facades as Locations for Photovoltaic Systems. Sustainability 2025, 17, 8844. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17198844

AMA Style

Stefanović A, Rakonjac I, Radu D, Hadzima-Nyarko M, Cazacu CE. Technical, Economic, and Environmental Assessment of the High-Rise Building Facades as Locations for Photovoltaic Systems. Sustainability. 2025; 17(19):8844. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17198844

Chicago/Turabian Style

Stefanović, Andreja, Ivana Rakonjac, Dorin Radu, Marijana Hadzima-Nyarko, and Christiana Emilia Cazacu. 2025. "Technical, Economic, and Environmental Assessment of the High-Rise Building Facades as Locations for Photovoltaic Systems" Sustainability 17, no. 19: 8844. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17198844

APA Style

Stefanović, A., Rakonjac, I., Radu, D., Hadzima-Nyarko, M., & Cazacu, C. E. (2025). Technical, Economic, and Environmental Assessment of the High-Rise Building Facades as Locations for Photovoltaic Systems. Sustainability, 17(19), 8844. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17198844

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop