Multicriteria roof sorting for the integration of photovoltaic systems in urban environments. (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thebault, Martin; Clivillé, Vincent; Berrah, Lamia; Desthieux, Gilles
• Is Part Of: Sustainable cities and society. Volume 60(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: Urban photovoltaic -- ELECTRE TRI -- Roofs sorting -- Classification -- Solar cities -- Suitability; Sustainable urban development -- Periodicals; Sustainable buildings -- Periodicals; Urban ecology (Sociology) -- Periodicals; 307.76
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2020.102259
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2210-6707

Abstract

Highlights: Multicriteria method is applied for roof integration of PV. Criteria relate to economy, aesthetic and heritage, energy, superstructure constraints, roof structure robustness. Suitability of the roofs to be equipped with PV panels is assessed. Sorting of the roof is made using ELECTRE TRI for a case study in Geneva. Abstract: This work deals with the sorting of the suitability of the roofs for the integration of PV systems, implementable as a GIS (Geographical Information System). Such sorting can provide relevant information to help and guide urban actors further develop solar energy, and therefore contribute to the acceleration of the deployment of this source of energy in cities. Three scenarios of sorting are considered: the energetic, the economic and the multicriteria sorting. The energetic and economic sorting scenarios are actually similar to the great majority of the currently proposed sorting in publicly available solar GIS tools (solar cadastre), which consider only one attribute such as the solar irradiation or the payback period. Knowing the limits of these sorting scenarios, a multicriteria approach is adopted and takes into account more impactful attributes in the urban actors' choices. The ELECTRE TRI methodology is used for this sorting problem. Different decisional criteria related to energy, economy, historic buildings and heritage, the structure and superstructure states of the roof are identified and detailed. The method is then applied to a set of alternatives (roofs) in a district of Geneva. The sorting results show that the proposed multicriteria scenario better integrates the complexity of the urban environment and provides a more relevant information regarding the suitability of the roofs for PV integration.