Solar panels in urban design

As cities around the world strive to reduce their carbon footprint and incorporate renewable energy sources, the integration of solar panels into urban design has become a critical component of sustainable development. Solar panels offer a viable solution to the growing demand for clean energy, but optimising their placement and performance in complex urban environments can be challenging (read more here). This is where ENVI-met comes in, offering a range of advanced features to help urban planners, architects and engineers maximise the efficiency of solar energy systems. In this article, we’ll explore how ENVI-met’s advanced tools can help optimise the placement of solar panels in the urban landscape.

Solar access and placement optimisation

One of the most powerful features of ENVI-met is its ability to simulate solar access in urban areas, including the effect of vegetation. The Solar Access module allows users to accurately predict the amount of sunlight that different areas of a building or other urban space will receive throughout the year. By analysing factors such as building orientation, height and surrounding structures, ENVI-met helps users identify the optimal locations for solar panel installation. This feature ensures that solar panels are placed in positions where they can capture the maximum amount of sunlight, maximising energy generation.

External shading analysis for optimum performance

Urban environments are complex, with many factors that can affect the performance of solar panels. One of the biggest challenges is shading from nearby buildings, trees and other structures (read more here). ENVI-met’s shading analysis tool allows users to simulate and visualise how shadows move across an area throughout the day and across different seasons. This analysis is critical for identifying potential shading issues and adjusting the placement of solar panels to avoid significant losses in energy production. The Tree Calendar can also be used to incorporate the changing foliage of deciduous trees into the solar analysis.

Dynamic thermal performance simulation

The efficiency of solar panels is highly dependent on the surface temperature of the panels and the ambient air temperature. As panels heat up, their efficiency typically decreases. ENVI-met allows users to simulate the thermal dynamics of solar panels, taking into account how they interact with their environment. By understanding how different materials, colours and configurations affect panel temperatures, designers can optimise systems to maintain peak efficiency even in hot weather (read more here).

Integration with Green Infrastructure

Incorporating green roofs and walls into urban designs is not only beneficial for cooling and aesthetics, but can also improve the performance of solar panels. Vegetation can reduce the ambient temperature around solar panels, helping to keep them cooler and more efficient. ENVI-met allows users to simulate the interaction between solar panels and green infrastructure, enabling the design of integrated systems that improve overall energy efficiency.

Year round solar analysis with Solargrams

ENVI-met’s Solargram tool provides a comprehensive year-round analysis of the solar potential at specific points within an urban area with a 10 minute time resolution. Solargrams automatically provide detailed visualisations showing how much solar energy is available at any given time and location. This feature is particularly useful for architects and planners who need to demonstrate the long-term viability of solar projects to stakeholders, or for projects that need to meet specific energy performance criteria.

Impact on urban microclimates

Solar panels do not only generate electricity, they also affect the microclimate of their surroundings. ENVI-met’s microclimate simulation capabilities allow users to assess the impact of solar panels on urban heat islands, air flow and temperature distribution. This holistic approach ensures that solar panel installations not only contribute to energy production, but also have a positive impact on the local environment, creating more comfortable and sustainable urban spaces.

Start using ENVI-met today to ensure that your solar energy projects are not only effective, but also contribute to a greener, more sustainable urban future.

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