Optimisation for large-scale photovoltaic arrays’ placement based on Light Detection And Ranging data

Niko Lukač, Denis Špelič, Gorazd Štumberger and Borut Žalik

Applied Energy, 2020, vol. 263, issue C, No S0306261920301045

Abstract: The availability of high-resolution LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) geospatial data has increased immensely, providing new opportunities to solve challenges in the field of spatial energy planning. This paper presents a new method for large-scale placement of photovoltaic arrays over buildings’ rooftops in an optimal manner by using the global optimisation approach. The position, aspect and slope are the ey geometrical parameters being optimised for each photovoltaic array. The predicted energy generation (i.e. photovoltaic potential) is simulated by using state-of-the-art hourly shadowing estimation from the surroundings, anisotropic diffuse, reflected, and direct irradiances that are based on a Typical Meteorological Year, and non-linear efficiency characteristics of a considered photovoltaic system configuration. The optimisation performs multiple simulation scenarios throughout an entire year for each photovoltaic array, in order to maximise its photovoltaic potential. The method was tested over three LiDAR datasets with different landscape topographies and urban densities. In comparison to the methods for photovoltaic arrays’ fixed optimal slope estimation, the proposed method is substantially more suitable for application in urban environments.

Keywords: Photovoltaic potential; Optimisation; Environmental simulation; LiDAR data (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

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DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.114592

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