Sustainability Issue #4 November 2011

Solar energy daily flows in, and technology is already available for converting solar energy into both heat and electricity. In Sweden, irradiation is comparable with that in central Europe and could, theoretically, cover large proportions of our energy needs over a large part of the year.

Nevertheless, very little is happening. The technology is as yet relatively expensive, there is a shortage of people who have the correct “solar” knowledge, and relatively few attractive solar energy concepts are on offer in the market.

Tools for planners

In the Formas project “Solar energy in urban planning”, we are studying how different solar technologies could be successfully introduced. Our starting point is the city and the urban landscape. One important prerequisite is the ability to measure the potential for solar energy in built-up areas and to show what possibilities and limitations we see in the present pattern of construction.

We are also designing tools that could be of help to urban planners to plan for more solar energy in both existing and newly constructed buildings. With the help of GIS it is possible to produce maps which give the urban planners of today entirely different oppportunities to plan for solar energy. Another aspect that we highlight is the way solar energy can be integrated in an architectural and aesthetic way. This provides both good examples and development needs.

One further aspect to study is the knowledge and potential of different actors to actually work with solar energy in a constructive manner. This refers to both firms of architects and to the architects and planners of urban areas.

Brunnshög of the future. Solar panels, green walls and other ambitious plans. The vision is illustrated by White Architects for the LundNE/Brunnshög Project in Lund

Integrated in existing systems

The project also comprises studies of how solar energy can in future be integrated in the existing systems for electricity and heat. Earlier studies have shown that distributed electricity production has a positive effect on voltage and losses in the network. In addition, the diurnal agreement between consumption and solar electricity can be valuable – in spite of the fact that these factors do not coincide during the season.

In a future large scale construction of solar electricity or some other distributed electricity production in Sweden, it is appropriate for the planning and operation of the network to be coordinated, so that the installations and the network can interact in the best way.

What types of support are needed for successful development of models for solar energy in the city? What type of knowledge is needed, and how can we ensure that this knowledge is strengthened? How can important cooperation between different actors be facilitated and supported? These are some more questions that we are studying in the project.

Strong coupling between actors

One of the problems today is precisely the weak coupling between the many actors involved in the construction process: planners, designers, clients, architects, consultants, owners, financiers and users; to these must be added actors such as energy firms, suppliers of solar technologies and firms that can support safe operation and maintenance. Support for various concepts for solar energy in the city will require new models for urban planning that integrate the different groups of actors. This also comprises different business and funding models.

This research programme is carried out in collaboration with towns in the south of Sweden and the major construction projects which are already at work on integrating solar energy in existing and new buildings. This includes projects such as West Harbour in Malmö, Brunnshög in Lund and H+i in Helsingborg.

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