Work

Passive Thermal Enhancement of Composite Metallic Roofs Through Rooftop PV Integration: A Calibrated Case Study in Mexico

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This study develops a calibrated multiscale simulation of three lightweight industrial warehouses located in Tecámac, Mexico, to evaluate the dual role of rooftop photovoltaic (PV) arrays as renewable energy generators and passive thermal modifiers. Dynamic energy models were developed using EnergyPlus via Ladybug Tools v. 1.8.0 and calibrated against 2021 real-world electricity billing data, following ASHRAE Guideline 14. Statistical analyses conducted in RStudio v2024.12.1 Build 563 confirmed significant passive cooling effects induced by PV integration, achieving up to 15.3 °C reductions in peak indoor operative temperatures and improving thermal comfort rates by approximately 10 percentage points. While operational energy savings were evident, the primary focus of this research was on the multiscale modeling of thermal performance enhancement in composite metallic-PV roofing systems under semi-arid climatic conditions. These results provide new insights into computational approaches for optimizing passive thermal performance in lightweight industrial envelopes.

Source: Processes

DOI: 10.3390/pr13061801

Authors: Juana Isabel Méndez, Cristopher Muñoz, Mariel Alfaro-Ponce, Emanuele Giorgi, Therese Peffer

Institutions: Tecnológico de Monterrey, University of California, Berkeley

Language: English

Topic: Building Energy and Comfort Optimization

Subfield: Building and Construction

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Affordable and clean energy, Climate action, Sustainable cities and communities, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896