Research On Spatial Analysis And Potential Of Photovoltaic Utilization In Harbin High-rise Residential Area

The rapid urbanization of China increases the conventional fossil energy consumption,which leads to energy crisis.Fossil fuels have undeniable disadvantages over human health and quality of life,in terms of global warming,air pollution etc.Solar energy utilization is an effective measure for solving these problems.The significant increase in worldwide photovoltaic utilization basing on solar energy is mainly due to its effective and viable benefits.Currently,photovoltaic systems range from distributed photovoltaic rooftops or integrated building installations to large,centralized utility-scale applications.As an important component of cities,residential areas’ energy demand is huge.As a consequence,photovoltaic systems are suitable for residential applications.However,more and more high-rise residential areas have emerged,residential photovoltaic applications are restricted by high-density building layouts and obstructions by tall buildings.Thus,a richer explication of the interaction between high-density building layouts and photovoltaic applications in residential areas is needed.Actually,suitable space for photovoltaic systems and its potential are necessary to carry out for the efficient and scientific residential photovoltaics utilization.Therefore,the present approach on abroad aims at the photovoltaic largescale applications in urban environment is mature enough.The impacts of building orientations,floor area ratios and building densities on the potential of photovoltaic are deeply studied.Similarly,relevant research in China is still in the initial stage,mainly concentrated on photovoltaic technology such as BIPV.This study promotes the efficiency improvement of photovoltaic utilization in residential areas,which has a significant meaning for sustainable development.Harbin is a typical severe cold city with high solar energy potential.This paper investigated the current situation and photovoltaic applications of 50 new high-rise residential areas which built from the year 2013 to 2016 in Harbin.Firstly,according to the spatial elements and characteristics of each residential area,6 typical building layouts were summed up,together with roofs,facades,green spaces.Secondly,photovoltaic utilization available areas of 6 typical layouts were analyzed.Then three-dimensional models were established for sunlight environment analysis.The analysis was conducted in Ecotect software,to obtain suitable spaces for photovoltaic systems.In addition,the photovoltaic potential in photovoltaic suitable spaces of each typical layout was calculated in PVsyst software.Finally,a residential area was taken as a case study in this paper to get more practical conclusions and verify the feasibility of this method.This paper evaluates the photovoltaic potential in different spaces of high-rise residential areas in Harbin,in order to instruct the installation and arrangement of photovoltaic systems.This research assists urban planners and architects in scientific residential planning and reasonable using of suitable photovoltaic spaces in high-rise residential areas.Photovoltaic utilization integrated with residential planning and building design in the implementation process would promote the efficiency use of photovoltaic systems,in terms with residential areas in severe cold cities.