A pathway to low-carbon, green energy using wind turbines in Iranian residential buildings

Purpose This study aims to address a critical gap in sustainable energy literature by quantifying the technical feasibility and carbon emission reduction of integrating a medium-sized wind turbine on residential rooftops within the unexplored Coastal Temperate and Highly Humid Region of Iran. The core objective was to determine if localized wind energy could provide a crucial, direct offset to the extremely high seasonal peak cooling demand currently met by fossil fuel generated electricity characteristic of this specific climate zone. Design/methodology/approach A rigorous building energy modeling (BEM) approach was used using DesignBuilder software to simulate a typical five-story residential building. The model was anchored by hyper-local, multidecade meteorological data specific to the study area. Unlike conventional studies focused solely on turbine performance, the author’s methodology centered on a holistic, component-level energy analysis, comparing a baseline scenario against an optimized scenario with the wind turbine integrated, focusing specifically on the energy components of cooling, heating and lighting. Findings The simulations yielded compelling evidence, demonstrating the turbine’s capacity for an impressive annual clean energy production of 10,341 kWh. Critically, the analysis revealed that 3,207 kWh of this energy is generated during the severe peak cooling months (May–August). This finding confirms a substantial and direct load-matching capacity, proving the system’s effectiveness in mitigating the most challenging energy load in the region – the air conditioning demands driven by high heat and humidity. Originality/value To the best of the author’s knowledge, this research is the first of its kind to move beyond generalized feasibility studies to establish a quantified demand-side mitigation strategy for this distinct coastal climate. By definitively linking localized wind resource assessment to demonstrable component-level energy savings, it offers an original, actionable and vital low-carbon pathway for residential development, providing essential data for regional energy policymaking.