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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/R50509/01
Title: Irradiation Mapping of 3D City Models for Building Integrated Photovoltaics: Feasibility Study
Principal Investigator: Mardaljevic, Professor J
Other Investigators:
Lomas, Professor K
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
B D S P Partnership Infoterra Ltd Whitby Bird and Partners
Department: Institute of Energy and Sustainable Dev
Organisation: De Montfort University
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 November 2001 Ends: 30 April 2003 Value (£): 62,654
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Design & Testing Technology Energy Efficiency
Solar Technology Urban & Land Management
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Construction Energy
Technical Consultancy
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
In cities, non-domestic buildings are a prime consumer of energy. Of the renewable technologies that have been proposed to reduce the carbon emissions associated with the energy consumption of buildings, in-situ generation of electricity by photovoltaics (PVs) is considered one of the most promising. The potential for exploitation of building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) installations depends primarily on the available solar energy. The existing approaches that attempt to model irradiation in urban environments employ various coarse approximations, e.g. a uniform sky brightness distribution, inter-reflection between buildings is not modelled, limitations on the geometric complexity of buildings, etc. In addition, these approaches calculate irradiation at a point, and so they do not offer any means of visualising the complex distribution of available solar energy in urban areas. the research proposed here will apply powerful lighting simulation and image-processing techniques to this problem and the results will, literally, make visible the available solar irradiation on building facades in cities. the new technique predicts images of the total annual solar energy based on hourly values for a full year. For the first time, it will be possible to survey complex 3D city models and assess the potential for the deployment of BIPV panels. In addition, the proposed technique will be able to make a quantitative measure of solar access and provide a means of assessing the impact that new buildings may have on existing BIPV installations. A basis for financial injury due to reduced BIPV performance could then be determined
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Organisation Website: http://www.dmu.ac.uk