Solar energy potential assessment in urban areas

The spread of techniques allowing a rational use of energy can contribute to addressing the environmental problems and, at the same time, can ensure a more equitable development without sacrificing the comfort offered by the progress and current life-styles. Among renewable energy sources, the solar thermal energy technology has reached maturity and reliability to be used widely and to be planned by Administrations. In urban areas the use of solar collectors can produce energy savings that are very substantial in summer and appreciable in winter. The impact on the visual perception of the landscape is one of the most critical impact in the use of solar panels, especially in Italian historical cities. This work develops a technique to assess the solar energy potential in urban areas identifying portions of territory (free areas or buildings’ roofs) more suitable for the installation of solar panels, so to maximize the panel performance ensuring optimal exposure and inclination, but at the same time able to minimize the visual impact for privileged observers (for example, tourists). The first part of the study has been done on the historic center of Pisa. The developed tool can be used by Public Administrations to identify areas where limits or constraints to the use of solar technology should be imposed and areas in which the installation of solar photovoltaic panels should be encouraged.