Modelling and Energy Analysis of a Solar Cooling System Powered by a Photovoltaic (PV) System for a Net-Zero Energy Building (NZEB) Using TRNSYS-PVsyst

An innovative global strategy to address climate change concerns is the concept of net-zero energy buildings (NZEBs). Designing and choosing a cooling system as the building’s primary energy consumption is one of the most important aspects of NZEBs, particularly in hot and humid regions where thermal comfort conditions are required throughout the year. This chapter aims to evaluate the feasibility of using solar cooling systems powered by photovoltaic (PV) systems in tropical regions in NZEBs. This study’s methodology includes three major sections: building energy audit, solar cooling design, and PV system design. An energy audit was performed on a case study building—a room and a fan coil unit (FCU)—at the National University of Malaysia—or Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)—to detect conventional cooling systems’ cooling load and energy consumption. The findings of the energy measurement show that the mechanical dehumidification process required a cooling coil capacity of 7.28 kW, or 56% of the total cooling coil capacity (13.06 kW) of the FCU, due to the greater percentage of latent load (51%) in the room in comparison with sensible load (49%). This challenge leads to the alternative solution for the case study: a chemical dehumidification process coupled with sensible cooling technology. A solar desiccant cooling system was developed through the TRNSYS software, and it was then simulated and experimentally verified. The proposed model could provide thermal comfort while saving 17–37% energy compared to a traditional cooling system, according to the results of the modelling energy analysis. It was also demonstrated that the proposed model could be used as an energy-efficient cooling system with the potential to be powered by a PV system for an NZEB. The PV system’s size, type, and orientation were designed and simulated by the PVsyst software to provide a power supply for the specified cooling system in accordance with power load, Malaysia’s meteorological data, site location, and the nation’s energy policy.