Advancing Sustainable Development Through Integrated Photovoltaic and Battery Energy Storage Systems in Commercial Buildings: A Strategic, Economic, and Environmental Perspective

Sustainability challenges require advanced and integrated approaches. The key role of SDG 7 can be supported by photovoltaic (PV) systems, which reduce grid dependence during sunlight hours, and by battery energy storage (BES) systems, which enable energy to be stored and utilized when solar generation is not available. The aim of this work is to provide multiple layers of analysis to support the development of integrated PV + BES systems in commercial buildings located in Italy. To this end, the study proposes methodologies based on multicriteria decision analysis, the discounted cash flow method, and includes a quantification of emission reduction levels. The results of the strategic analysis show that the interviewed experts recommend the implementation of a 50% tax deduction to support investment. The profitability of PV systems ranges from 548 to 1831 €/kW, depending on the market scenario. For specific levels of self-consumption, no significant economic risks are identified. The integration of a BES system proves to be economically viable depending on the market context: with positive outcomes in 13%–20% of cases under the High Market scenario, and 26%–40% under the Low Market scenario. This confirms that the economic feasibility of BES integration mainly depends on the avoided electricity costs and the increase in self-consumption. Although the adoption of storage systems slightly reduces the environmental benefit, an integrated PV + BES system can still achieve a reduction of 77 tCO2eq in the first year. These findings, obtained through a multidisciplinary approach, confirm that renewable energy applied to public buildings contributes directly to sustainable development.