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A simplified skyline-based method for estimating the annual solar energy potential in urban environments

Author

Listed:
  • Andres Calcabrini

    (Delft University of Technology)

  • Hesan Ziar

    (Delft University of Technology)

  • Olindo Isabella

    (Delft University of Technology)

  • Miro Zeman

    (Delft University of Technology)

Abstract

Architects, engineers and urban planners have today at their disposal several tools for simulating the energy yield of photovoltaic systems. These tools are based on mathematical models that perform repetitive calculations to determine the annual irradiation received by solar panels; hence when photovoltaic systems are installed in complex urban environments, the simulations become highly computationally demanding. Here we present a simplified and yet accurate model for the direct calculation of the annual irradiation and energy yield of photovoltaic systems in urban environments. Our model is based on the correlation between the solar radiation components and the shape of the skyline profile. We show how calculations can be simplified by quantifying the skyline using two indicators: the sky view factor and the sun coverage factor. Model performance is evaluated in different climates using measured data from different photovoltaic systems. Results indicate that the proposed model significantly reduces the required computation time while preserving a high estimation accuracy.

Suggested Citation

  • Andres Calcabrini & Hesan Ziar & Olindo Isabella & Miro Zeman, 2019. "A simplified skyline-based method for estimating the annual solar energy potential in urban environments," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 4(3), pages 206-215, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natene:v:4:y:2019:i:3:d:10.1038_s41560-018-0318-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41560-018-0318-6
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    Cited by:

    1. Ferri, Carlotta & Ziar, Hesan & Nguyen, Thien Tin & van Lint, Hans & Zeman, Miro & Isabella, Olindo, 2022. "Mapping the photovoltaic potential of the roads including the effect of traffic," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 427-442.
    2. Bódis, Katalin & Kougias, Ioannis & Jäger-Waldau, Arnulf & Taylor, Nigel & Szabó, Sándor, 2019. "A high-resolution geospatial assessment of the rooftop solar photovoltaic potential in the European Union," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 1-1.
    3. Zhu, Rui & Wong, Man Sing & You, Linlin & Santi, Paolo & Nichol, Janet & Ho, Hung Chak & Lu, Lin & Ratti, Carlo, 2020. "The effect of urban morphology on the solar capacity of three-dimensional cities," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 1111-1126.
    4. Qin, Jun & Jiang, Hou & Lu, Ning & Yao, Ling & Zhou, Chenghu, 2022. "Enhancing solar PV output forecast by integrating ground and satellite observations with deep learning," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    5. Jiang, Hou & Lu, Ning & Huang, Guanghui & Yao, Ling & Qin, Jun & Liu, Hengzi, 2020. "Spatial scale effects on retrieval accuracy of surface solar radiation using satellite data," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    6. Fuster-Palop, Enrique & Prades-Gil, Carlos & Masip, X. & Viana-Fons, Joan D. & Payá, Jorge, 2021. "Innovative regression-based methodology to assess the techno-economic performance of photovoltaic installations in urban areas," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    7. Meskiana Boulahia & Kahina Amal Djiar & Miguel Amado, 2021. "Combined Engineering—Statistical Method for Assessing Solar Photovoltaic Potential on Residential Rooftops: Case of Laghouat in Central Southern Algeria," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-16, March.
    8. Phuong Minh Khuong & Russell McKenna & Wolf Fichtner, 2020. "A Cost-Effective and Transferable Methodology for Rooftop PV Potential Assessment in Developing Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-46, May.
    9. Chen, X.M. & Li, Y. & Zhao, B.Y. & Wang, R.Z., 2020. "Are the optimum angles of photovoltaic systems so important?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    10. Paulius Kozlovas & Saulius Gudzius & Jokubas Ciurlionis & Audrius Jonaitis & Inga Konstantinaviciute & Viktorija Bobinaite, 2023. "Assessment of Technical and Economic Potential of Urban Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Systems in Lithuania," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-29, July.
    11. Enrique Fuster-Palop & Carlos Prades-Gil & Ximo Masip & J. D. Viana-Fons & Jorge Payá, 2023. "Techno-Economic Potential of Urban Photovoltaics: Comparison of Net Billing and Net Metering in a Mediterranean Municipality," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-32, April.
    12. Zhou, Y. & Wilmink, D. & Zeman, M. & Isabella, O. & Ziar, H., 2023. "A geographic information system-based large scale visibility assessment tool for multi-criteria photovoltaic planning on urban building roofs," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    13. Agnieszka Bieda & Agnieszka Cienciała, 2021. "Towards a Renewable Energy Source Cadastre—A Review of Examples from around the World," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-34, December.
    14. Zhu, Rui & Cheng, Cheng & Santi, Paolo & Chen, Min & Zhang, Xiaohu & Mazzarello, Martina & Wong, Man Sing & Ratti, Carlo, 2022. "Optimization of photovoltaic provision in a three-dimensional city using real-time electricity demand," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 316(C).
    15. Arias-Rosales, Andrés & LeDuc, Philip R., 2023. "Urban solar harvesting: The importance of diffuse shadows in complex environments," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).

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