Method for Estimating Solar Energy Potential Based on Photogrammetry from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

This study presents a method to estimate the solar energy potential based on 3D data taken from unmanned aerial devices. The solar energy potential on the roof of a building was estimated before the placement of solar panels using photogrammetric data analyzed in a geographic information system, and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Electronics (Basel) 2020-12, Vol.9 (12), p.2144
Main Authors: Fuentes, Jose Eduardo, Moya, Francisco David, Montoya, Oscar Danilo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aerial photography
Algorithms
Atmospheric models
Geographic information systems
Optimization
Photogrammetry
Photovoltaic cells
Roofs
Software
Solar energy
Solar panels
Solar radiation
Three dimensional models
Unmanned aerial vehicles
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Summary:This study presents a method to estimate the solar energy potential based on 3D data taken from unmanned aerial devices. The solar energy potential on the roof of a building was estimated before the placement of solar panels using photogrammetric data analyzed in a geographic information system, and the predictions were compared with the data recorded after installation. The areas of the roofs were chosen using digital surface models and the hemispherical viewshed algorithm, considering how the solar radiation on the roof surface would be affected by the orientation of the surface with respect to the sun, the shade of trees, surrounding objects, topography, and the atmospheric conditions. The results show that the efficiency percentages of the panels and the data modeled by the proposed method from surface models are very similar to the theoretical efficiency of the panels. Radiation potential can be estimated from photogrammetric data and a 3D model in great detail and at low cost. This method allows the estimation of solar potential as well as the optimization of the location and orientation of solar panels.
ISSN:2079-9292
2079-9292
DOI:10.3390/electronics9122144