Solar Energy in Urban Planning: Lesson Learned and Recommendations from Six Italian Case Studies

Formolli, Matteo; Croce, Silvia; Vettorato, Daniele; Paparella, Rossana; Scognamiglio, Alessandra; Mainini, Andrea Giovanni; Lobaccaro, Gabriele

doi:10.3390/app12062950

Cited by 17 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Expansion of agrivoltaic systems will furthermore be hindered by landscape preservation reservations and public acceptance. Collaboration with local communities and authorities, early inclusion into the decision‐making process and raising awareness for agrivoltaics and their potential to alleviate drought effects on food production can be the key to achieve acceptance (Formolli et al, 2022). Additionally, the design of the system should be adapted to the landscape (e.g., adapted to landscape orography) to reduce visual interference (Toledo & Scognamiglio, 2021).…”

Section: How To Trade Off Electric Power and Agricultural Production ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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How to reconcile renewable energy and agricultural production in a drying world

Schweiger

Pataczek

2023

Plants People Planet

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Societal Impact StatementRenewable energies such as photovoltaics can mitigate climate change by replacing fossil fuels, but they will compete with other forms of land use when implemented in open space. Agrivoltaics provide a promising approach to reconciling food and energy needs by allowing for agricultural and electrical power production on the same area of land. Agrivoltaics have a high potential to attenuate negative effects of drought on crop growth and, thus, can help to increase resilience of agricultural production under increasingly variable environmental conditions. This drought attenuation potential will be especially relevant for regions where drought and population growth co‐occur.SummaryWater scarcity is threatening food security and other, plant‐related ecosystem services. Renewable energy production provides a sustainable strategy to replace fossil fuel and, by this, mitigate climate change. However, common forms of renewable energy production such as photovoltaics in open space directly compete with agriculture. Agrivoltaics are proposed as a promising technology to reconcile food and energy needs by allowing for agricultural and electrical power production on the same area of land. However, general understanding of the potential of agrivoltaics to facilitate crop yield under changing climatic conditions is lacking. In this study we provide an overview on the effects of agrivoltaics on microclimate and crop growth and yields. We furthermore quantify the global potential of agrivoltaics to attenuate drought effects on crops and develop a conceptual framework for evaluating interactions between solar power and agricultural production under changing climatic conditions. Generally, shading by agrivoltaics will reduce yield in comparison to maximum possible yield under unshaded, well‐watered conditions but can reduce interannual variation in yields caused by drought, thus, increase resilience of agricultural production. This drought attenuation potential of agrivoltaics seems to be especially promising in the drought prone regions of the world. Land use efficiency of agrivoltaic systems is directly linked the degree of crop shading which covaries with the drought attenuation potential but will ultimately be guided by political decisions on how to weight energy production vs. food security. The latter depends on economic, societal and ecological aspects related to the implementation of agrivoltaics.

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Section: How To Trade Off Electric Power and Agricultural Production ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Collaboration with local communities and authorities, early inclusion into the decision-making process and raising awareness for agrivoltaics and their potential to alleviate drought effects on food production can be the key to achieve acceptance (Formolli et al, 2022).…”

Section: Societal Aspectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

How to reconcile renewable energy and agricultural production in a drying world

Schweiger

Pataczek

2023

Plants People Planet

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“…Moreover, limited space in urban areas poses difficulties in finding suitable locations for solar installations and implementing NBS. Optimizing energy production and ensuring sufficient sunlight availability further complicate the integration of solar energy systems [184]. Additionally, comprehensive planning and policy frameworks present another challenge.…”

Section: Challenges and Opportunitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Developing comprehensive strategies, regulations, and incentives to promote the adoption of solar energy and NBS is crucial. Overcoming administrative barriers, streamlining permitting processes, and providing financial support for implementing these technologies are essential steps [182][183][184][185].…”

Section: Challenges and Opportunitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrating Solar Energy and Nature-Based Solutions for Climate-Neutral Urban Environments

Liu

Σκάνδαλος

Braslina

et al. 2023

Solar

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This study focuses on achieving climate neutrality in European cities by integrating solar energy technologies and nature-based solutions. Through an examination of current practices, emerging trends, and case examples, the study explores the benefits, challenges, and prospects associated with this integration in urban contexts. A pioneering approach is presented to assess the urban heat and climate change mitigation benefits of combining building-integrated photovoltaics and nature-based solutions within the European context. The results highlight the synergistic relationship between nature-based components and solar conversion technology, identifying effective combinations for different climatic zones. In Southern Europe, strategies such as rooftop photovoltaics on cool roofs, photovoltaic shadings, green walls, and urban trees have demonstrated effectiveness in warmer regions. Conversely, mid- and high-latitude European cities have seen positive impacts through the integration of rooftop photovoltaics and photovoltaic facades with green roofs and green spaces. As solar cell conversion efficiency improves, the environmental impact of photovoltaics is expected to decrease, facilitating their integration into urban environments. The study emphasizes the importance of incorporating water bodies, cool pavements, spaces with high sky-view factors, and effective planning in urban design to maximize resilience benefits. Additionally, the study highlights the significance of prioritizing mitigation actions in low-income regions and engaging citizens in the development of social photovoltaics-positive energy houses, resilient neighbourhoods, and green spaces. By adopting these recommendations, European cities can create climate-neutral urban environments that prioritize clean energy, nature-based solutions, and the overall wellbeing of residents. The findings underscore the need for a multidisciplinary approach combining technological innovation, urban planning strategies, and policy frameworks to effectively achieve climate neutrality.

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“…Since joining the EU, Poland, which is obliged to follow and implement suitable policies, including climate-focused ones, has increased its solar energy capacity from 2 MW in 2013 to 11,167 MW by the end of 2022 [10]. Similarly, in Italy, legal regulations and incentives related to renewable energy sources have directed the power derived from solar energy systems towards an upward trend, as seen in other EU countries [11]. As a result, Italy ranks second among EU countries.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of the Development of Solar Energy Capacity in Turkey

2023

1st International Conference on Modern and Advanced Research Icmar 2023

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The recent energy crisis has compelled countries worldwide to focus on energy production using renewable energy sources. Consequently, renewable energy capacity has experienced significant growth, with solar energy playing a substantial role. Interest in solar energy systems is increasing day by day, leading to widespread installations of solar energy systems. Electricity generation based on solar energy, a crucial renewable energy source, has particularly witnessed substantial growth in developed countries. Turkey has emerged as one of the countries demonstrating progress in this field. As of June 2022, the solar-based installed electricity capacity in Turkey reached 8.479 MW, accounting for 8.35% of the total installed capacity. With this percentage, Turkey ranks among the top eight countries in Europe in terms of solar energy production capacity, surpassing many advanced European nations. This study examines the current status and development of solar energy capacity in Turkey, while also comparing it with other countries that have made significant strides in this area. Specifically, since 2019, there has been a rapid upward trend in solar-based electricity production, with an increase of approximately 3.5 MW. While this growth is significant in a short period, as solar energy applications for electricity generation continue to expand, countries will intensify their efforts to achieve targeted capacity increases at a faster pace.

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Solar Energy in Urban Planning: Lesson Learned and Recommendations from Six Italian Case Studies

Cited by 17 publications

References 26 publications

How to reconcile renewable energy and agricultural production in a drying world

How to reconcile renewable energy and agricultural production in a drying world

Integrating Solar Energy and Nature-Based Solutions for Climate-Neutral Urban Environments

A Review of the Development of Solar Energy Capacity in Turkey

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