The SEES system determines the amount of solar energy coming down from the roof

Scientists working at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden say they have developed a tool that can accurately determine the amount of solar energy coming down: a specific roof, a neighborhood or in a whole town.

"Whether a town's roof structures are suitable for installing solar panels, depending on factors such as: a roof covered by surrounding buildings and trees. the slope of the roof and the angle of incidence of sunlight , " said Fredrik Lindberg, working at the Department of Earth Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

"This is the first time that scientists can determine exactly: how much of a regular home roof can get as much solar energy as a single year," Fredrik Lindberg added.

Scientists working at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden have worked with WSP consulting to develop a geographic information system (GIS) that can calculate the suitability of a roof for mounting solar power panels.This system, called SEES, is capable of calculating the amount of solar energy that existing structures can receive , which will be used free of charge to companies and cities in need.

This software tool is integrated on a GIS computer that functions: collecting, storing, analyzing and presenting geographic data. This means that this software tool will simulate real roofs in the surrounding environment; Build 3D models that simulate how the Sun shines buildings, in surrounding terrain conditions and vegetation cover.

The drop shadow effect (due to being covered by surrounding buildings or trees) can be calculated for each month or for a year and this means that certain parts of a roof can become should not be suitable for solar energy collection, although the roof has both optimal direction and slope. In this way, software tools can calculate the total amount of solar radiation on each part of a roof structure in a certain area, such as calculating the specific amount of kilowatt hours of electricity collected. per square meter.

SEES system developers are committed: this system can provide a suitable map, based on user requirements, to anticipate that the annual solar energy can be obtained from the tool roof. This is an optimal, medium or poor level.

Lindberg said: "We use the city of Gothenburg as a pilot in the project, but this method can be used in all other cities, where the necessary data is available".

Users can assess the suitability of a roof for installing solar photovoltaic panels or solar panels for hot water over a wide range based on available data.