Sustainability at Auburn University: Assessing Rooftop Solar Energy Potential for Electricity Generation with Remote Sensing and GIS in a Southern US Campus

Abstract

Achieving sustainability through solar energy has become an increasingly accessible option in the United States (US). Nationwide, universities are at the forefront of energy efficiency and renewable generation goals. The aim of this study was to determine the suitability for the installation of photovoltaic (PV) systems based on their solar potential and corresponding electricity generation potential on a southern US university campus. Using Auburn University located in the southern US as a case study, freely available geospatial data were utilized, and geographic information system (GIS) approaches were applied to characterize solar potential across the 1875-acre campus. Airborne light detection and ranging (lidar) point clouds were processed to extract a digital surface model (DSM), from which slope and aspect were derived. The area and total solar radiation of campus buildings were calculated, and suitable buildings were then determined based on slope, aspect, and total solar radiation. Results highlighted that of 443 buildings, 323 were fit for solar arrays, and these selected rooftops can produce 27,068,555 kWh annually. This study demonstrated that Auburn University could benefit from rooftop solar arrays, and the proposed arrays would account for approximately 21.07% of annual electricity requirement by buildings, equivalent to 14.43% of total campus electricity for all operations. Given increasing open and free access to high-resolution lidar data across the US, methods from this study are adaptable to institutions nationwide, for the development of a comprehensive assessment of solar potential, toward meeting campus energy goals.

Evaluation of Planned Sustainable Urban Development Projects in Al-Baha Region Using Analytical Hierarchy Process

“…Decision making in energy projects requires attention to specialized, monetary, environmental, and social effects and is regularly complicated [47]. Renewable generation and energy efficiency goals have been targeted by universities due to their important roles in achieving sustainability requirements [48]. On this basis, solar radiation should be exploited in the Al-Baha region by the application of at least three solar-exploiting fields across the region, optimally at the southern faces of the high mountains.…”

Investigating the Effect of Shading on the Capacity Factor of Floating Photovoltaic Systems

“…Some studies have focused on the three-dimensional modelling of roofs for appropriate placement of PV modules [16]- [18]. Several studies employed threedimensional models using light detection and ranging (LIDAR) data, and the shading effect and other factors were evaluated together [19], [20]. In addition, digital surface models (DSMs) have been used to calculate the shading effects caused by the topography of the land [21], [22].…”