**3.5 Individual ZEB or ZEB cluster**

In recent years, wide ranges of researches are available on the topic of RES design/control for an off-grid building or a village in a remote area [25–27].

**Figure 6.**

*Single-/multi-objective design optimization using GA/NSGA-II.*

**Figure 7.** *The cost of building under different mismatch ratios.*

**Figure 8.**

*A typical diagram of individual on-grid ZEB.*

**49**

**Figure 10.**

*Four aspects in terms of sensitivity analysis for ZEB.*

*Definition and Design of Zero Energy Buildings DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.80708*

be further explored and formed for ZEB development.

**4. Uncertainty analyses**

**4.1 Uncertain parameters**

performance.

energy load, as shown in **Figure 10**.

However, the question is, are the buildings better to be designed as individual ZEB separately (**Figure 8**) or a ZEB cluster (**Figure 9**) when the grid power is available? By considering the dynamic electricity price from the power grid and dynamic financial incentives of sell back price from RES, the investment of RES is supposed to be different, while electricity exchange between the building and the grid is also supposed to be greatly different since the building in ZEB cluster can share on-site generation among these grouped buildings. In the study of Sun et al. [35], performance potentials are investigated by comparing single-building level using non-collaborative controls and building-group level using collaborative controls. However, a systematic and comprehensive comparison of the differences between design/control strategies for individual on-grid ZEB and on-grid ZEB cluster should

ZEB is generalized as a type of sensitive building since its target is affected not only by the variation of building energy load but also by the fluctuation of local renewable energy resources. In general, a comprehensive sensitivity analysis is required to be conducted by considering both on-site generation and building

In terms of on-site RES generation, the availability of renewable resources (e.g., solar radiation and/or wind speed) and RES parameters (e.g., PV/WT efficiency and life time) can directly affect on-site energy generation for building electricity supply and thus greatly affect RES selection as well as the corresponding building

**Figure 9.** *A typical diagram of on-grid ZEB cluster.*

*Definition and Design of Zero Energy Buildings DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.80708*

*Green Energy Advances*

**Figure 7.**

*The cost of building under different mismatch ratios.*

**48**

**Figure 9.**

**Figure 8.**

*A typical diagram of on-grid ZEB cluster.*

*A typical diagram of individual on-grid ZEB.*

However, the question is, are the buildings better to be designed as individual ZEB separately (**Figure 8**) or a ZEB cluster (**Figure 9**) when the grid power is available? By considering the dynamic electricity price from the power grid and dynamic financial incentives of sell back price from RES, the investment of RES is supposed to be different, while electricity exchange between the building and the grid is also supposed to be greatly different since the building in ZEB cluster can share on-site generation among these grouped buildings. In the study of Sun et al. [35], performance potentials are investigated by comparing single-building level using non-collaborative controls and building-group level using collaborative controls. However, a systematic and comprehensive comparison of the differences between design/control strategies for individual on-grid ZEB and on-grid ZEB cluster should be further explored and formed for ZEB development.
