Simulated and monitored electrical energy balance in a solar house in Dubai, UAE

This paper presents the energy performance simulation and monitoring of a solar powered house designed, built, and operated under Dubai's hot and humid climate, stressing the balance between the electricity consumption and the production of the roof PV system. The study shows a summary of the design process aimed at optimizing the house’s energy performance and maximizing the direct use of solar energy in the specific UAE climatic scenario, which implies a consistent use of cooling throughout the year. The simulated and monitored data collected by a third-party organization grants the reliability of the analysis on the real case study. The comparison of the predicted and monitored PV production shows a moderate gap, primarily due to the variable climatic conditions, but ultimately confirms the efficiency and feasibility of the system.