Potential for Net-Zero Energy Communities in Kuwait: An Empirical Techno-Economic Modeling and Optimization Approach

A net-zero energy community (NZEC) is a promising paradigm that can directly contribute to a sustainable building sector and infrastructure. This research presents a unique empirical techno-economic optimization and evaluation approach for NZEC potential and enablers through its application to the understudied context of Kuwait. The proposed approach is unique, as it integrates data-driven and physics-based modelling capabilities, captures the impact of urban form on NZEC techno-economic performance, and quantifies through sensitivity analyses the impact of potential enablers in overcoming financial barriers to adoption. Results indicate that NZECs are far from being competitive in Kuwait compared to the business-as-usual scenario of electricity grid purchase at highly subsidized tariffs. Increasing electricity rates to a minimum of 0.03 $/kWh is recommended, coupled with investing in energy efficiency and enabling grid sell-back capabilities. Finally, results indicate that the energy demand profiles of office and multi-family buildings are more advantageous for efficient NZEC design and performance than villas, the most predominant building type in Kuwait. Limiting the share of NZEC energy demand from villas to 25% helps avoid excessive energy generation and storage capacities and costs.