Utilising high-fidelity 3D building model for analysing the rooftop solar photovoltaic potential in urban areas

Abstract

There are multiple approaches of estimating solar power generation by rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. Methods processed using GIS as well as 3D models provide the most reliable and accurate results. However, with the restriction of a limited detail 3D model area, estimations on a regional scale are hard to achieve. The regional power potential can be predicted by identifying the correlation of rooftop areas and the shadowing effect changing between the Level of Detail (LOD)1 and LOD2 models in the case study areas. This research considers the aspects and angles of the rooftops, to try and not only figure out the optimal PV installation conditions but also to make a general estimation for optimal angle, 2-axis solar tracking as well as total solar radiation received scenarios. The results of the research indicate that the optimal annual angle is 177° and 13° in aspect and slope degree, respectively, and the improvements of power generation under those three scenarios increase from about 2 to 16% in the test area, respectively. This research also showed that the power potential in partial small areas had the same tendency as the whole region even though each part of the small area had uneven city pattern. Additionally, different from most of the study, north-facing rooftops had been proved to have the strong potential to be developed as a solar power PV panel site and should not be neglected from the whole PV system.