Assessment of the solar energy potential of diverse urban built forms in Nagpur, India

Abstract

Power consumption in urban areas is enormous and expected to rise exponentially in the coming years. Thermal power plants connected to the grid supply the majority of this electricity demand. Utilizing solar energy for photovoltaic (PV) panels may be a substitute for generating clean electricity. The heterogeneous urban built form (UBF) makes it a challenge for using solar energy effectively. Thus, it is crucial to understand how the UBF of cities affects solar energy potential physically, geographically and technically.This study assesses the solar energy potential of five diverse UBFs in Nagpur, India, identified using Local Climatic Zones (LCZ). A set of indicators under the urban form elements - buildings, density, open spaces, streets, and vegetations are used to assess the UBFs. Digitized 3-D models are prepared using ArcMap, ArcGIS Pro, and Rhinoceros 3D to perform solar simulation using Grasshopper + Ladybug plugin. Solar PV yield computation is done to understand the solar energy potential (SEP). The results show that each UBF affects the solar energy potential significantly. The methods utilized in this work can aid in the creation of urban solar maps. The study can be expanded for designing solar panels for retrofitting for specific urban setting.