GIS application and econometric analysis for the verification of the financial feasibility of roof-top wind turbines in the city of Bari (Italy)

Abstract

In Italy, wind solutions for the generation of electricity from renewable energy sources (RES-E) have been widely adopted, especially in regions with good geo-climatic conditions. In the last years, the need to limit the soil sealing has resulted in a great deal of attention being given to the implementation of RES-E energy policies integrated with the existing urban properties.In this paper, the authors have pursued two main objectives. The first is an analysis of the financial feasibility resulting from the realization of roof-top wind turbines in the city of Bari (Southern Italy). This analysis was carried out through the application of a GIS-based decision support model. The second aim deals with the explanation of the mathematical relation between the aerodynamic parameters and the economic variables of the investment. The expressions obtained, on the one hand, allow to enucleate the actual influence of the aerodynamic parameters on the economic variables and to verify the empirical coherence of the outputs; while on the other, they provide algorithms for the rapid assessment of the performance indicators of the investment. The methodology developed identifies an easily repeatable operative and logical path, which can also be used in other territorial contexts.