The document discusses a study conducted on the solar energy potential of buildings in Espoo, Finland. A collaboration between universities and engineering companies developed a computer software model called SEES (Solar Energy from Existing Structures) to analyze the solar energy potential of the 44,000 buildings across Espoo's 425 square kilometers. The SEES analysis provides users with an easy way to estimate a building's solar electricity and heat production based on location and roof attributes. The software is being developed to help consumers, building owners, urban planners and others evaluate renewable energy options and their impacts.

1. Solar Energy Potential
Measurement
Case of Espoo, Finland
GBC Conference, Helsinki
1.2.2013
Jani Päivänen
16.1.2013

2. Solar Energy from Existing Structures = SEES
 Collaboration between.
 University of Gothenburg: methods
 WSP Finland: indata
 WSP Sweden: calculations.
 The SEES analysis covered the
entire Espoo municipality, covering
approximately 425 km2 of land and
44 000 buildings.

3. Solar Energy in Finland
 In Finland solar energy systems have so
far mainly been used in locations not
connected to conventional power grids.
 Solar energy systems connected to the
grid are becoming increasingly
common, too.
 Solar energy is projected to increase in
importance as a global energy source
 Electricity from photo voltaic (PV)
systems and heat from solar thermal
collectors will be important due to
 increasing performance,
 decreasing production costs – vs. costs
of other energy sources
 Solar energy also holds a position as a
democratic energy source.

4. Why not use it?
 Owners of residential, industrial, and
office buildings possess unutilized
solar energy resources: roofs and
walls
 These surfaces might be directed
toward the sun in a favourable
angle, while obstructed by
neighbouring houses and vegetation.
 Many roofs in built-up areas are more
or less suitable for PV installation.
 In order to evaluate the suitability of
any roof for PV installation, a GIS
tool was developed by WSP Analysis
& Strategy, Sweden, that yields
amount incoming solar radiation and
possible shading effects.

5. Consumer’s problem
Should I trust the producer?

6. House owner’s problem
How can I compare different systems, I’m not a technical
expert!

7. The urban planner’s problem
What would be the optimal energy system for this area I’m planning?

8. How to integrate expert knowledges for practical uses?
Expert knowledge is scattered, hard to grasp and not available for all

9. How can a consumer estimate the potential energy that she might get from
installing solar panels?
The City of Espoo wanted to make the complex issue understandable by
integrating the information in a user-friendly way.
SEES (Solar Energy from Existing Structures) is a computer software model
which was used for the estimations.

10. By giving a few basic data, the user can compare
the available renewable energy options

11. …and see the produced amount of solar electricity & solar heat

12. The user needs only provide a few choices, and will see their impact on
energy balance immediately

14. The system is being developed
to analyse possibilities for existing buildings…

15. …and new house patterns and whole districts too

16. …in order to provide a comprehensive energy planning tool.

17. The development is based on freely available open sources.

18. Further information
 Check the service yourself:
http://energiatieto.wordpress.com/
http://energiatieto.herokuapp.com/
 City of Espoo / Robert Eriksson
With partners:
WSP Finland / Jani Päivänen
Pöyry
IBM
University of Gothenburg