Solar Energy Assessment for Community Energy Planning

Solar Energy Assessment for Community Energy Planning Dr. Alexandre Pavlovski, P. Eng., Green Power Labs Inc. Leonardo ENERGY Webinar - March 20, 2009

Overview

Green Power Labs – Brief Introduction

Community Energy Planning – Why Solar?

Solar Resource Mapping based on Historical and Current Climatology Trends

Community Solar Suitability Mapping and SolarStar™ Rating

Solar Suitability Assessment of Buildings and Houses

SolarRating Online

Green Power Labs: Fields of Activities

High resolution mapping, monitoring and forecasting of solar energy resources

Development of GIS-based decision support systems for community energy planning

Solar suitability assessment and rating of commercial and residential buildings and communities

Solar thermal and photovoltaic systems engineering

Courtesy of Young + Wright Architects Inc.

Community Energy Planning: Why Start with Solar?

Solar energy is always “in your hands”: you can take advantage of it or waste it

Available solar resource is a unique asset of every architectural design

Solar technologies can be matched with essential community energy needs

Energy Prices and Lifecycle Costs: Solar Can Help

Rising energy prices have dramatically increased building lifecycle costs.

Solar technologies for heating and power generation are a viable option to reduce these costs.

It is estimated over 1000 square miles of commercial roof space is available in the United States for on-site solar energy generation.

using our high resolution mapping and advanced imagery of site specific obstructions.

Latitude

Microclimate

Altitude

Natural Landscape

Built Environment

Technology Efficiency

Solar Energy Availability: System of Filters

Solar Resource Mapping based on Historical and Current Climatology Trends

Historical Solar Climatology for the province of Nova Scotia

Historical Solar Climatology for the province of Quebec

Historical Solar Climatology for the province of Ontario

GPLI developed ArcGIS toolset for mapping solar irradiance from satellite images

Current Solar Climatology for Strait-Highlands Region, Nova Scotia (2007)

Solar Suitability Mapping and SolarStar™ Rating

Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia

The largest post-secondary educational institution in the Maritime Provinces

A member of G13, a group of leading research-intensive universities in Canada

Student enrolment - 10,254 full-time undergraduate and 2,793 full-time graduate students (for 2007-08)

Infrastructure – over 60 facilities

Dalhousie University: 10-year Comprehensive Master Plan

Major Objectives :

To guide improvements in space utilization and development

To guide capital budgeting and project implementation

To support the University’s strategic directions of sustainable development

Campus Energy Mapping – an integral part of Dalhousie master planning process

LIDAR-based Digital E levation Site M odel and 3D V isualisation Dalhousie University Campus, Halifax LIDAR – derived Digital Elevation Model allows for reconstruction of site features at ultra-high resolution

Campus-wide Solar Gain Mapping accuracies: 15 - 25 cm

SolarStar™ Suitability Rating

Allows for easy comparison of commercial and residential properties for their suitability to solar energy generation.

Creates a standard for building professionals and the general public

Creates a convenient tool for labeling on-site solar energy generation potential

SolarStar™ Suitability Rating of the Campus Buildings

Solar Energy Generation Potential - Roofs (Solar Water Heating)

Solar Energy Generation Potential - Walls (Solar Air Heating)

Solar Energy Generation Potential Existing heavy fuel oil consumption by central heating plant: average annual consumption of oil: 161,634 MWh delivered at 65% efficiency: 105,062 MWh Possible solar share in heat supply: 21% Area (m2) Total Annual Solar Resource (MWh) Energy Generation Potential (MWh) Solar Suitable Roof Surface: 44,142 57,116 9,400 (SWH) Solar Suitable Wall Surface: 23,182 22,903 12,600 (SAH) TOTAL 80,019 22,000

Solar Suitability Assessment of Buildings and Houses

Site-Specific Solar Suitability Assessment

A mandatory step in efficient deployment of solar technologies

Recommended for existing buildings or those still in the design stage

Allows for a well-informed decision on investment in solar technologies

Determines the applicability and the best mix of solar technologies

Enhances solar system engineering

Courtesy of WHW Architects

Solar Microclimate and System Engineering 100% direct radiation at 45º Latitude 10% direct radiation at 45º Latitude Solar resource available (% of max)

Solar Suitability Assessment Toolset

Accurately reflects solar micro climate based on high resolution satellite-derived radiation data

Incorporates advanced imagery of site specific obstructions and their impact on solar radiation

Forecasts solar system performance

Defines solar system payback period and return on investment

Defines reduction in carbon emissions

Solar Suitability Assessment: Dalhousie University, Sir Charles Tupper Building

Solar water heating

Solar air heating

Solar Suitability Assessment: Dalhousie University, Sir Charles Tupper Building Solar Water Heating Solar Air Heating Capital: $220,000 $160,000 Production: 40-50% of DHW 30% of heat load GHG Reduction: 29 t/y 51 t/y Payback Period: 12 years 6-7 years

Solar Suitability Assessment: Dalhousie University, Killam Memorial Library

Solar Suitability Assessment: Dalhousie University, Killam Memorial Library SWH SAH Capital: $96,000 $110,000 Production: 40-50% of DHW 39% of heat GHG Reduction: 14 t/y 39 t/y Payback Period: 10-11 years 5-6 years

SolarRating Online for Solar Education and Promotion Green Power Labs created this interactive, educational online assessment tool to support efficient use of solar energy.

Thank You [email_address] www.greenpowerlabs.com 1 Research Drive Dartmouth Nova Scotia Canada B2Y 4M9 902 466 6475