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Estimating the spatial distribution of solar photovoltaic power generation potential on different types of rural rooftops using a deep learning network applied to satellite images

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  • Sun, Tao
  • Shan, Ming
  • Rong, Xing
  • Yang, Xudong

Abstract

Rooftop photovoltaic (PV) power generation is an important form of solar energy development, especially in rural areas where there is a large quantity of idle rural building roofs. Existing methods to estimate the spatial distribution of PV power generation potential are either unable to obtain spatial information or are too expensive to be applied in rural areas. Herein, we propose a novel approach to estimate the spatial distribution of the general potential of rural rooftop power from publicly available satellite images. We divide rural building roofs into three categories based on their orientation and roof angle and propose a revised U-Net deep learning network to extract roof images from satellite images at the macro level. Based on the rooftop detection, a calculation method for the potential area of the installed PV panel at the micro level was developed, considering different types of PV panels and their maintenance methods. By combining the above results and setting the solar radiation parameters and PV system efficiency, we can obtain the spatial distribution of the rooftop PV power generation potential in rural areas. This method is applied in northern China on a village and a town scale, and the overall accuracy of the revised U-Net model can reach over 92%. The spatial distribution information was analyzed and displayed. The annual average PV power generation potential ranges from 26.5 to 36.2 MWh per household and from 7.3 to 10 GWh per village.

Suggested Citation

  • Sun, Tao & Shan, Ming & Rong, Xing & Yang, Xudong, 2022. "Estimating the spatial distribution of solar photovoltaic power generation potential on different types of rural rooftops using a deep learning network applied to satellite images," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 315(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:315:y:2022:i:c:s0306261922004305
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2022.119025
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    5. Özdemir, Samed & Yavuzdoğan, Ahmet & Bilgilioğlu, Burhan Baha & Akbulut, Zeynep, 2023. "SPAN: An open-source plugin for photovoltaic potential estimation of individual roof segments using point cloud data," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    6. Liu, Jiang & Wu, Qifeng & Lin, Zhipeng & Shi, Huijie & Wen, Shaoyang & Wu, Qiaoyu & Zhang, Junxue & Peng, Changhai, 2023. "A novel approach for assessing rooftop-and-facade solar photovoltaic potential in rural areas using three-dimensional (3D) building models constructed with GIS," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    7. Lodhi, Muhammad Kamran & Tan, Yumin & Wang, Xiaolu & Masum, Syed Muhammad & Nouman, Khan Muhammad & Ullah, Nasim, 2024. "Harnessing rooftop solar photovoltaic potential in Islamabad, Pakistan: A remote sensing and deep learning approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).
    8. Nikolaos Nagkoulis & Eva Loukogeorgaki & Michela Ghislanzoni, 2022. "Genetic Algorithms-Based Optimum PV Site Selection Minimizing Visual Disturbance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-19, October.
    9. Kapsalis, Vasileios & Maduta, Carmen & Skandalos, Nikolaos & Wang, Meng & Bhuvad, Sushant Suresh & D'Agostino, Delia & Ma, Tao & Raj, Uday & Parker, Danny & Peng, Jinqing & Karamanis, Dimitris, 2024. "Critical assessment of large-scale rooftop photovoltaics deployment in the global urban environment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 189(PB).
    10. Mao, Hongzhi & Chen, Xie & Luo, Yongqiang & Deng, Jie & Tian, Zhiyong & Yu, Jinghua & Xiao, Yimin & Fan, Jianhua, 2023. "Advances and prospects on estimating solar photovoltaic installation capacity and potential based on satellite and aerial images," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    11. Nie, Yazhou & Deng, Mengsi & Shan, Ming & Yang, Xudong, 2023. "Clean and low-carbon heating in the building sector of China: 10-Year development review and policy implications," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    12. Molnár, Gergely & Cabeza, Luisa F. & Chatterjee, Souran & Ürge-Vorsatz, Diana, 2024. "Modelling the building-related photovoltaic power production potential in the light of the EU's Solar Rooftop Initiative," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 360(C).
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