Integrating Solar Energy in Rome's Built Environment: A Perspective for Distributed Generation on Global Scale

Abstract

Large‐scale integration of solar energy technologies in Rome's built environment epitomizes the needed general adoption of distributed generation via functionalization of buildings of all size and end use across the world, to become active energy generators and no longer energy users only. This essay identifies selected technology solutions and critical policy and educational initiatives to effectively achieve within the next decade (2018–2027) the widespread uptake of decentralized solar energy systems in the built environment on a global scale.

Solar Energy and New Energy Technologies for Mediterranean Countries

“…The outcomes of the first decade of the great energy transition to renewable energy and to new energy technologies, indeed, are clear:Utility‐scale photovoltaic power generation is now so cheap that one MWh from a large PV park in Egypt is profitably sold at $27.52;PV and solar thermal technologies are ready to functionalize all sort of buildings at low cost and produce useful energy on‐site;Battery electric vehicles are ready to replace internal combustion vehicles burning oil;…”

“…Today's low cost solar energy and electricity storage technology, make the first objective achievable thanks to new legislation supporting distributed generation for example updating obsolete construction regulation making long and costly the permit process to functionalize buildings with solar modules . The growth potential is huge as less than 5% of the world's buildings, and even a lesser fraction of the large Mediterranean built environment, are functionalized with solar collectors …”

“…Referring to Rome as the city with the world's largest historic heritage, and the consequent need for systematic architectural integration of the solar energy technology to combine historic preservation with generation of renewable energy, we have lately shown how today's versatile photovoltaic and solar thermal technology solutions enable to achieve the uptake of decentralized solar energy systems in practically any building and built environment …”

Solar Green Roofs: A Unified Outlook 20 Years On

“…In early 2017, less than 5% of buildings globally were functionalized with photovoltaic (PV) modules . Hence, we recently provided arguments and recommendations to undertake a global effort using today's largely affordable solar PV technology to functionalize the existing building stock …”

“…[1] Hence, we recently provided arguments and recommendations to undertake a global effort using today's largely affordable solar PV technology to functionalize the existing building stock. [2] For decades impeded by the high cost and by the poor aesthetics of PV technology, this shift is now technically and economically viable, thanks to the truly global "solar boom" [3] that occurred in the last decade that led to the dramatic progress in the PV industry.…”