Optimisation of photovoltaic and battery systems for cost-effective energy solutions in commercial buildings
Author(s)
Laksahapsoro, Brantyo
Bird, Max
Acha, Salvador
Shah, Nilay
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
This study investigates the optimisation of photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage systems (BESS) for commercial buildings in the UK, addressing the need for cost-effective energy solutions and the challenge of ensuring financial viability. A mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model is developed to simultaneously optimise the design and operation of PV-BESS systems, focusing on minimising the 15-year net present cost. In doing so, the model comprehensively assesses a wide range of relevant factors, including electricity market dynamics, weather conditions, technology performance and costs, energy demand, and building-specific characteristics. The optimisation model is demonstrated through a case study informed by an actual commercial building in the UK. The results indicate that a combination of mono-crystalline silicon PV modules and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries yields the optimal solution, providing about 46% of the building's annual energy demand. The optimised system successfully achieves a balanced trade-off between cost and technical performance, offering a sensible payback period of 5.5 years and a 15-year NPV of £303.8k, resulting in 20% cost savings compared to the business-as-usual (BaU) scenario. The sensitivity analysis shows that high electricity prices lead to better financial outcomes, while higher energy storage costs reduce system viability. This work provides a practical framework for evaluating the design, operation, and financial viability of PV-BESS systems, while delivering actionable insights to support the broader adoption of these technologies.
Version
Imperial Users only
Date Issued
2025-08-15
Date Awarded
2024
Date Acceptance
2025-04-07
Citation
Applied Energy, 2025, 392
ISSN
0306-2619
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Journal / Book Title
Applied Energy
Volume
392
Copyright Statement
© 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Creator
Laksahapsoro, Brantyo
Description Note
Distinction
Publisher Department
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Publisher Institution
Imperial College London
Qualification Level
Masters
Qualification Name
MSc
Course Name
Sustainable Energy Futures
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
125907
Date Publish Online
2025-04-23