Photovoltaic potential estimation of natural and architectural sensitive land areas to balance heritage protection and energy production

• Published in: Energy and buildings 2023-07, Vol.290, p.113107, Article 113107
• Main Authors: Lucchi, Elena, Adami, Jennifer, Peluchetti, Alessia, Camilo Mahecha Zambrano, Juan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Building Integrated Photovoltaic; Energy in buildings; Heritage-compatible interventions; Photovoltaics; Solar potential estimation
• ISSN: 0378-7788
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2023.113107

•PV potential estimation in sensitive areas.•Involvement of Public and Heritage authority in the decision-making process.•Respect of original morphology, typology, material, and historic* features.•Stochastic models to consider occupants’ behavior, and cultural diversity.•PV potential index for heritage-compatibility in historic* towns. The study aims at defining a methodology for estimating the photovoltaic potential of natural and heritage sensitive land areas, balancing heritage protection and energy production thanks to the involvement of Public and Heritage Authorities. This method is applied to the Como Land Area (Italy) for verify its feasibility in territories with heterogeneous morphologies, landscapes, and constraints. First, “urban area typology” and their “recurring buildings typologies” are identified using local sources and tools with the support of the Public Authorities for considering similar shapes, features, materials, roof geometries, and orientations as well as future policy developments. Then, heritage-compatible photovoltaic technologies and suitable surfaces are selected for one “recurring buildings typology” respecting original appearance, values, and meanings thanks to the enquires with the local Heritage Authority. Considering these recommendations, the photovoltaic potential in covering energy and building needs is estimated considering the impact of urban geometries, self-shadings, heritage and territorial constraints. Energy profiles are generated using stochastic models calibrated to include occupant diversity and cultural factors. An average index for the photovoltaic potential reduction due to the heritage-compatibility is found respectively of 21% and 16% compared with the maximum theoretical potential achievable in the building envelope and in the roof.