A GIS-Based Method for Identification of Wide Area Rooftop Suitability for Minimum Size PV Systems Using LiDAR Data and Photogrammetry

Diane Palmer, Elena Koumpli, Ian Cole, Ralph Gottschalg and Thomas Betts
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Diane Palmer: Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST), Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
Elena Koumpli: Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST), Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
Ian Cole: Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST), Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
Ralph Gottschalg: Fraunhofer Center for Silicon-Photovoltaic (CSP), 06120 Halle, Germany
Thomas Betts: Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST), Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 12, 1-22

Abstract: Knowledge of roof geometry and physical features is essential for evaluation of the impact of multiple rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system installations on local electricity networks. The paper starts by listing current methods used and stating their strengths and weaknesses. No current method is capable of delivering accurate results with publicly available input data. Hence a different approach is developed, based on slope and aspect using aircraft-based Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data, building footprint data, GIS (Geographical Information Systems) tools, and aerial photographs. It assesses each roof’s suitability for PV deployment. That is, the characteristics of each roof are examined for fitting of at least a minimum size solar power system. In this way the minimum potential solar yield for region or city may be obtained. Accuracy is determined by ground-truthing against a database of 886 household systems. This is the largest validation of a rooftop assessment method to date. The method is flexible with few prior assumptions. It can generate data for various PV scenarios and future analyses.

Keywords: solar; LiDAR; rooftop photovoltaics; building characteristics; wide-area solar yield (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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