Estimation of rooftop solar photovoltaic potential using geo-spatial techniques: A perspective from planned neighborhood of Karachi – Pakistan

Jibran Khan and Mudassar Hassan Arsalan

Renewable Energy, 2016, vol. 90, issue C, 188-203

Abstract: With an ever increasing population and significant solar resource availability throughout the whole year, Karachi metropolis hold a promising rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) potential considering its millions of urban households. This research work highlights techniques to combine geographic information systems (GIS) and object-based image recognition approach to identify the available rooftop area for PV deployment in a small scale region of DHA Phase 7 Karachi. A six step methodology has been adopted for the estimation of rooftop PV potential which involves geographic division of high resolution satellite imagery; sampling and rooftop feature extraction using FE tool of ENVI EX software; extrapolation of rooftop areas for the entire ROI using roof area-population relationship; visual inspection to analyze different rooftop factors such as building orientation, shading effect from trees and nearby buildings and other roof uses; a comparison of extracted rooftops to the physically measured sample rooftops, reduction for shading and other uses; and finally conversion to energy and power outputs. A relationship of total roof area and population of 13 m2/capita ±5% has been found. With higher efficiency rooftop PV panels, 12.24 MW of solar power can be generated which is 122.4% of peak power demand of DHA Phase 7.

Keywords: Rooftop PV potential; Karachi; Solar resource; Urban solar planning; GIS (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (29)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:90:y:2016:i:c:p:188-203

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2015.12.058

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