Assessment of urban-scale building photovoltaic potential: A case study in Matera, Italy

Local authorities need advanced but practical tools to assess the energy behaviour of their building stock and its impact on the local energy supply network. Within this network, the energy produced by photovoltaic systems (PV) plays a key role. In this context, the paper presents an integrated framework for the evaluation of true photovoltaic potential of building rooftops at urban scale, based on the physical representation of the urban form and on a comprehensive and replicable simulation model. Starting from the analysis of LiDAR point cloud data, a detailed 3D model of the case study area considering the terrain and buildings morphology, the urban shading and the technical constraints is defined. QGIS software allows the characterization of each building, including historical/artistic constrains that forbid the PVs installation. The isotropic sky model is used for the calculation of the solar irradiance on PVs and is based on hourly values of diffuse and direct irradiance included in the Italian technical standard, providing a precise solar irradiation calculation on the effective number of PV modules that can be installed. As a result, the PV potential characterization is expressed through a semantic annotation in GIS files reporting the PVs properties included the presence of constraints. This approach provides a useful tool for the design of the urban environment, driving refurbishment interventions and supporting the creation of energy communities based on the actual potential of the territory. The framework has been tested within the city core of Matera, in Southern Italy.