Abstract

In dense urban areas, limited available space constrains the deployment of renewable energy systems, motivating alternative solutions. Solar photovoltaic cantilevers on building façades offer a promising approach, generating electricity and shading that enhance building energy efficiency. A methodology is proposed to determine the optimal tilt angle, considering both electricity generation and shading-related energy savings. The method is applied to a university building in a Mediterranean climate to evaluate performance under realistic conditions. Results indicate that the optimal photovoltaic cantilever reduces cooling demand by 7% and increases heating demand by 5%, supplies 14% of the building’s electricity with a 4% surplus, and can reduce overall electricity consumption by 16–20%. Although focused on a specific case, the findings support broader applications of this approach and highlight its potential as a spatially efficient strategy for advancing energy sustainability in urban buildings.