Planning instruments

How to simulate the solar gains of a specific urban area (existing or new to be developed) ? How to foster integrating the passive and active uses of solar energy at urban level ?

You will find below several tools used, developed or identified by different partners of POLIS project.

Softwares for SOLAR irradiation simulation of an urban area

1 - SOLENE

Solene is a planning and design tool for simulation of sunshine, lighting, and thermal radiation. For more info, click here

2 - URSOS

URSOS is a freeware software for urban design. The tool simulates the energy characteristics of a building / a bloc of buildings. For more info, click here

3 - MUSE

MUSE is a decision support tool for urban planners. It allows urban planners to evaluate the best urban form to reduce GHG emissions. For more info, click here

4 - Open Studio Plug-In for Google SketchUp

Open Studio is a free plug-in for the 3D drawing program Google SketchUp. By means of Open Studio it is feasible to save the designed and arranged building geometry in the program EnergyPlus (EnergyPlus is a whole building energy simulation program for engineers, architects and researchers). For more info, click here

5 - SEES Solar Energy from Existing Structures

SEES uses GIS-Data for creating the area, orientation und tilt of Building parts and combines it with shadows from surrounding structures and vegetation. It is possible to analyse the potential of the solar irradiation on existing buildings. For more info, click here

6 - ECOTECT

ECOTECT is an environmental design tool for predicting and analyzing building energy performance and environmental impacts. For more info, click here

7 - PLEIADE COMFIE

PLEIADE COMFIE is a dynamic thermal simulation software. It is possible to calculate the heating and / or cooling needs of buildings. For more info, click here

8 - SOLEILI

SOLEILI is a freeware software for building design. The tool enables to calculate the amount of solar energy received by the different facades of a building. For more info, click here

9 - UPM-IES Solar Resource Tool

The software tool developed by the Solar Energy Institute of the Technical University of Madrid performs solar radiation calculations and losses due to shadows casted over a given surface by nearby obstacles. On urban environments, obstacles can be located relatively close to solar installations generator and, therefore, shading losses might a significant impact on the performance of building integrated solar systems.
Download the software here.
For more info, click here

Methodology for the Identification of the Detailed Solar Potential of Urban Areas

The “Methodology for the Identification of the Detailed Solar Potential of Urban Areas” is a specific method developed by the Technical University of Madrid (UPM) with the aim of integrating the passive and active uses of solar energy at urban level. For more information, you can download the methodology description here.

Tools for solar thermal and photovoltaic systems calculation

1 - Solterm

Solterm is a planning and design tool for ST and PV systems. It’s the calculation procedure recognized by the portuguese national STO. For more info, click here

2 - “Solar Roof Check”

The guide “SolardachCheck” reviews, if a roof is convenient/suitable for a solar thermal- and/or a photovoltaic system. For more info, click here

3 - Solar-Yield

Solar-Yield is a big international database, where members can catch up information about solar energy and solar gaining for free. For more info, click here

POLIS Guidelines, based on the experiences of the pilot actions in Lisbon, Lyon, Malmö, Munich, Paris and Vitoria-Gasteiz

Based on experience gathered during the pilot actions in the cities of Lisbon, Lyon, Malmö, Munich, Paris and Vitoria-Gasteiz, guidelines were developed to support the adaptation of urban planning procedures with the aim of boosting solar energy in other cities and towns. The POLIS partners have identified a total of ten guidelines necessary to implement a coherent planning policy in favour of solar energy. They address how to identify and mobilise the solar potential, optimise solar urban planning processes, and adapt local policies and legislation. Each of the ten guidelines (covering the entire process from data collection to policy development and legislation) will help replicate these successful experiences in other cities, benefitting from the lessons learned in practice.

The document is available in different languages:
English version
French version
German version
Spanish version