| Abstract: | This paper describes the development of a solar energy planning system, consisting of a methodology and decision support software for planners and energy advisers. Intended primarily to predict and realise the potential of solar energy on an urban scale, the system will support decisions in relation to the key solar technologies: solar water heating, photovoltaics and passive solar gain. The prototype discussed here relates to the first of these. Based on a methodology for predicting the solar energy potential of domestic housing stock, it is implemented as a relational database application linked to a customised geographical information system (GIS). The methodology takes into account baseline energy consumption and projected energy saving benefits. To support this, the system incorporates a domestic energy model and addresses the major problem of data collection in two ways. Firstly, it provides a comprehensive set of default values derived from a new dwelling classification scheme that builds on previous research. Secondly, novel GIS tools enable key data to be extracted from digital urban maps in different operational modes. The paper concludes with a discussion of possible planning scenarios to illustrate how the system may be deployed at various levels of granularity to assist targeting of individual properties or city neighbourhoods, or for whole-city projections. |
