Photovoltaics (PV) can make a significant contribution to achieving carbon neutrality in buildings. Geographic information systems (GIS) make it easy to model cities and simulate PV with high accuracy. However, the computational burden from 3D urban models remains high. In this study, the complex geometry of a city was represented in 2D images, and we propose a method for performing multiple PV simulations in a short amount of time by using these 2D images. The ratio of electricity generation to primary energy consumption (EG/E) was calculated for 415 office buildings in Sapporo, Japan, and conditions for achieving carbon neutrality in these buildings were explored. For buildings with a small gross floor area, EG/E can be higher than one, and carbon neutrality can be achieved by improving the performance of the exterior walls and windows and by increasing the area of the PV installed. However, to improve EG/E in buildings with a large gross floor area, it is necessary to consider improving the performance of the equipment used and the efficient operation of the HVAC system. The method is useful for considering ways to achieve carbon neutrality in various cities.
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