Solar Energy in the Nordic Built Environment: Challenges, Opportunities and Barriers

Matteo Formolli,Gabriele Lobaccaro,Jouri Kanters

doi:10.3390/en14248410

Matteo Formolli, Gabriele Lobaccaro + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/en14248410

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Abstract

Within the framework Solar Heating and Cooling Programme of the International Energy Agency Task 51 “Solar Energy in Urban Planning”, case studies from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark were collected and analyzed through a comparative approach. The cases were first classified based on their urban characterization (existing and new urban areas) and then compared within the same country or in a cross-country perspective according to three areas of interest (i.e., Scale and planning process, Legislation and planning process, Targets and goals). The comparisons follow a common template of five sections describing the role of the involved stakeholders and highlighting challenges, barriers, and opportunities for the deployment of active solar systems and passive solar strategies. Both technical and non-technical aspects are considered. Among the technical aspects, the focus is on the adoption of solar energy strategies (e.g., solar accessibility, daylighting), the estimation of solar potential and energy generation. Regarding the non-technical aspects, the focus is on identifying barriers and challenges for the adoption of solar systems in relation to national and local legislation. The findings show that municipalities can have a crucial role in facilitating the adoption of solar energy solutions in cities by embracing ambitious visions and storytelling, as well as being directly financially involved as owners or subsidizing bodies. The findings also demonstrate the value of the use of indicators to evaluate the performance of masterplans, the combination of analogue and digital tools in the design process, and the performance of solar simulations from early stages to foster awareness among the involved stakeholders. Despite these positives, the Scandinavian legislation on solar energy utilization in the urban context still displays fragilities, making the creation of guidelines a pressing need.

Highlights

Solar photovoltaic (PV) is the renewable energy source that is experiencing the highest growth rate, with an average annual increase of 36% in the past 30 years [1]
Even though the focus a first stage on the solar potential, is important thoughthat the the focus in a first stage could to beaon the solar potential, it isfocus important ensure ensure results are transferable second stage, where the shouldtobe on the that the results are transferable to a second stage, where the focus should be on the pracpractical installation of active systems (Figure 9)
The awareness of the solar potential limitations of solar deployment should be shared by the whole design team,and and limitations of information solar energyshould deployment shouldat beall shared by theofwhole design team, and expertise and be available the stages the project

Summary

Introduction

Solar photovoltaic (PV) is the renewable energy source that is experiencing the highest growth rate, with an average annual increase of 36% in the past 30 years [1]. Many ambitious new areas have been planned in Denmark and den, two neighboring countries with different legislations but dealing with similar challenges regarding demand, optimizing energy utilization and lengesminimizing regarding energy minimizing energy demand,solar optimizing solar energy utilization daylight accessibility at high latitudes, and guaranteeing pleasant outdoor conditions. The integration of solar energy systems in the built environment, especially o cades at high latitudes where the overshadowing risks are relevant, is an important o that has to be considered the process the earlyprocess stages.from. This the cross-country ation that in has toplanning be considered in from the planning early stages. It treats the issue situation where defined solar technologies installed on existing buildings can be shaded from new as a situation where solar technologies installed on existing buildings ca constructions within thefrom same area.

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