TECHNO-ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS FOR ENERGY-PLUS BUILDINGS IN POLAND

Abstract

The European Union’s decarbonization targets necessitate a rapid transformation of the building sector toward net-zero emissions. This study presents a comprehensive techno-economic and environmental assessment of photovoltaic (PV), wind, and hybrid PV–wind systems for energy-plus buildings in six representative Polish cities: Białystok, Katowice, Lublin, Poznań, Szczecin, and Gdańsk. Using HOMER Pro simulation software, systems were optimized to minimize Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) while maximizing renewable fraction. Results indicate that inland cities achieve optimal performance with PV-only systems (LCOE: 0.50–0.60 USD/kWh), whereas coastal cities favor wind-only systems (LCOE: 0.65 USD/kWh) due to higher wind resource availability. Annual greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions range from 89% to 94%, equivalent to 6.5-7.4 tons CO₂ per building. Sensitivity analysis confirms the significance of capital cost reductions and financing conditions for economic viability. Policy recommendations include targeted incentives, PV-ready building codes, and grid modernization. The findings provide actionable insights for policymakers, investors, and engineers aiming to accelerate renewable integration in Poland’s residential sector.