Björn Maronga
EUPHORIC is a DFG-funded research project in cooperation with the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt in Braunschweig and the Technische Universität Dresden. The project aims at investigating the effect of area-wide photovoltaics (PV) deployment in urban areas on the outdoor and indoor urban microclimate in terms of thermal comfort and air quality. For this purpose, we want to implement a new parameterization for roof-top PV panels in the Large-Eddy Simulation Model PALM to simulate and analyse the effects of the widespread use of PV modules under realistic atmospheric conditions.
Cities account for approximately 2 % of the global land area but consume 60 to 85 % of the world's energy and produce 70 % of the world's carbon dioxide emissions. In recent years, PV electricity energy generation has grown exponentially. Roof-top PV deployments offer several advantages, such as local clean energy generation, energy independence, less energy imports and costs as well as efficient space usage. The effect of roof-top PV on the urban microclimate, however, has not been studied on city- or city-quarter-scale in building-resolved numerical studies. Thus, we use the LES model PALM to investigate the impact of roof-top PV on the urban microclimate, outdoor thermal comfort, indoor energy demand, and CO2-equivalent savings. In order to achieve this, we develop a parameterization for PV modules, which will then be implemented in the model, tested with simulations, and validated with measurement data. Furthermore, we conduct sensitivity studies regarding relevant parameters that modify the effect of PV on both indoor and outdoor climate. These include deployment height, roof shape, sub-panel materials, synoptic forcings, PV coverage, and conversion efficiency. The simulations include both idealized and real urban areas.
