Identifying key design parameters of the integrated energy system for a residential Zero Emission Building in Norway

• Integrated energy supply solution can be used for residential Zero Emission Building.
• The solar energy could cover 85–92% and 12–70% of the domestic hot water demand in summer and winter in cold climate.
• The supply air volume, the storage tank volume, and set point temperatures influenced the most total energy.
• The design of the short time storage tank is crucial to decrease the energy use of the ZEB family house.

This study examined an integrated solution of the building energy supply system consisting of flat plate solar thermal collectors in combination with a ground-source heat pump and an exhaust air heat pump for the heating and cooling, and production of domestic hot water. The supply energy system was proposed to a 202 m2 single-family demo dwelling (SFD), which is defined by the Norwegian Zero Emission Building standard. The main design parameters were analyzed in order to find the most essential parameters, which could significantly influenced the total energy use. This study found that 85% of the total heating demand of the SFD was covered by renewable energy. The results showed that the solar energy generated by the system could cover 85–92% and 12–70% of the domestic hot water demand in summer and winter respectively. In addition, the solar energy may cover 2.5–100% of the space heating demand. The results showed that the supply air volume, supply air and zone set point temperatures, auxiliary electrical volume, volume of the DHW tank, orientation and tilt angle and the collector area could influenced mostly the total energy use.