The potential for BIPV installation in dense urban areas: An open-source model for analysis of urban form

The successful deployment of distributed photovoltaic (PV) systems requires assessment of the potential of possible installations for electricity generation. Exposure to solar radiation in dense urban locations must account for shading by adjacent structures, at high spatial and temporal resolution. 3D modelling of the shadows cast by buildings is carried out with a new R package that can simulate the shadows cast on vertical surfaces (typically walls) or horizontal ones (typically roofs), given a database of obstacles representing buildings in the form of extruded polygons, and the sun's position at any desired time interval. The methodology is demonstrated for a case-study neighbourhood in Rishon-LeZion, Israel, with diverse building typologies, but is suitable for any location, using the open-source code developed. The simulation shows which building typologies offer the greatest solar potential, calculated per dwelling, building plot area or for the entire neighbourhood. Although roofs are preferable to vertical surfaces, some facades can still make a substantial contribution to the overall solar potential of urban buildings.