However, the complex urban environment, characterized by mutual shading from high-density buildings and a large number of buildings, poses challenges for the high-precision and high-efficiency prediction of solar radiation potential on building surfaces at the city scale.
In 2023, cumulative solar PV capacity reached some 649 gigawatts in China alone. Investments in solar photovoltaic energy has grown during the last years and the technology remains one of the most heavily funded renewable sources. Find up-to-date statistics and facts on the global solar photovoltaic industry.
The study explored the distribution and variation patterns of solar radiation across different building surfaces, building types, radiation types, and time ranges, and investigated the potential for photovoltaic power generation on building surfaces in Zhengzhou under various scenarios. The main conclusions are as follows:
Evaluating the solar potential in urban areas is crucial for the low-carbon transition of city energy systems. However, the complex urban environment presents challenges for the accurate and efficient prediction of solar radiation on building surfaces at the city scale.
Zhengzhou, China, serves as the case study to test the proposed solar radiation prediction model on urban building surfaces. The results of this case study provide specific insights and recommendations for optimizing solar energy utilization in the region. Part II: Analysis and evaluation
By 2030, buildings will increasingly become a source of flexibility for the energy system, enabling efficient coupling of variable PV and wind with the use of electricity for building purposes (e.g. heating/cooling).