Discussing the needs of high resolution data: their impact in evaluating solar potential considering the horizon height

Abstract

The need for high-resolution data is exponentially growing in the current energy transition. In this sense, geographic information system tools are crucial for a more precise evaluation of solar energy potentials in complex urban environments. Thus, this work aims to provide novel insights into the need for high-resolution data and understand when and where these are required. The work analyses the impact of the horizon height of the surrounding areas as well as the more distant obstacles in evaluating the solar potential in three given locations in Bolzano, Italy starting from a high-resolution digital surface model. It was found that the more complex the location is, the more a spatially explicit approach with high-resolution data is required to detect the impact of the surrounding buildings. More importantly, it substantially affects the hourly availability of solar energy, which is crucial when simulating and dimensioning integrated systems at the building level.