The Worldwide Renewable Power Company (IRENA) explains tips on how to use the SolarCity Simulator, an open-access platform designed to assist member nations deploy PV techniques on the municipal degree.
Cities face growing vitality provide challenges from ageing infrastructure and excessive shopper tariffs to effectivity and reliability points. On the similar time, rising vitality demand is driving cities to hunt extra sustainable, dependable, and reasonably priced vitality options. With the discount in the price of photo voltaic photovoltaics and the development of know-how, many cities are turning to rooftop photo voltaic of their city vitality planning.
Supporting cities of their vitality planning course of, IRENA has developed a user-friendly net software known as SolarCity Simulator. The net software permits municipal authorities to evaluate their photo voltaic vitality potential, whereas addressing problems with affordability and environmental externalities.
As a part of the World Atlas for Renewable Power Initiative – the biggest open supply initiative that features renewable vitality useful resource maps, datasets, and extra data – the SolarCity Simulator was created in shut collaboration with nationwide authorities. It examines town’s 3D constructing footprint obtained from satellite tv for pc imagery and the photo voltaic useful resource profile.
The user-friendly simulator permits households, companies, and municipalities in chosen cities to guage the prices and advantages of putting in rooftop photo voltaic PV of their chosen location. By merely choosing town on the map, the dimensions, the actual roof and configuration of the PV system to be put in, customers can instantly see:
(i) The technical potential for every chosen roof, together with the mapping of appropriate areas to put in PV techniques at 1m2 spatial decision with equal electrical energy manufacturing at totally different scales (per hourly, day by day, and yearly).
(ii) The monetary potential of various case research (householders, buyers, and authorities) contemplating totally different financial indicators, similar to payback, Fairness Inside Fee of Return, and funding money circulation , making an allowance for the native context of cities.
(iii) Socio-environmental advantages by data on annual carbon emissions prevented, the equal variety of tropical timber planted, the equal variety of automobiles taken off the street when taking electrical energy from the rooftop photo voltaic PV system, and the potential of jobs created. .
The SolarCity Simulator strategy may be deployed cost-effectively world wide, together with in places the place photo voltaic potential is excessive, however has not been absolutely explored. First developed in 2019 as a pilot venture to evaluate the potential of rooftop photo voltaic PV deployment within the metropolis of Kasese (Uganda), the upgraded 2021 model of the Simulator consists of high-resolution mapping of rooftop photo voltaic PV potential in a complete of 19 you metropolis. The newest additions to SolarCity Simulator are Basseterre and Charlestown in Saint Kitts and Nevis.
As the primary metropolis to obtain SolarCity Simulator assist, Kasese has seen the advantages of its software. Utilizing the Simulator, town of Kasese analyzed the potential use and funding wants of putting in rooftop PV in several buildings in several elements of town.
New insurance policies are being adopted together with efforts to draw investments, coaching applications for households and small companies to deploy home-based photo voltaic techniques, and consciousness elevating actions to make sure buy-in from residents. Due to this, the residents of Kasese embraced the set up of photo voltaic of their metropolis, together with their properties. The transition from polluting kerosene lamps to wash solar energy has introduced good well being to many.
“The well being facilities in Kasese have seen fewer circumstances of ailments associated to chest congestion,” stated Mayor Godfrey Kabbyyanga.
The change additionally gives new financial alternatives as a result of individuals lower your expenses on electrical energy, not having to maintain shopping for paraffin for lamps. “We saved cash so I may begin my small enterprise,” stated Bridget Kabugho, a resident of Kasese. “With the brand new revenue, I may purchase new garments and meals for my kids.”
Many cities have found some great benefits of the Simulator.
“The SolarCity Simulator provides us the chance to examine the techno-commercial viability of the markets. What can be very helpful is that it covers a big a part of town’s roofs for potential photo voltaic tasks. We began utilizing the Simulator in three cities out there – Sokoto, Jimeta and Kaduna – for potential investments and hope to construct on its success so as to add different cities. stated Suleiman Babamanu, technical venture lead for the Rural Electrification Company , Nigeria.
To make sure that extra communities can benefit from the wider socio-economic advantages of rooftop photo voltaic PV deployment, IRENA plans so as to add extra cities to the platform in partnership with governments, particularly in Africa, the Center East, and Small Island Growing States.
To be taught extra concerning the Simulator, see the rules or the methodology report. See additionally coaching supplies and demonstration movies right here. To run some simulations, go to the Simulator
This text was contributed by the Worldwide Renewable Power Company (IRENA)
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