Search

By exploring the poetics of three photographers, this article attempts to capture the relationship between urban denizens and the ephemeral, tumultuous city. I understand poetics as arising from their spatial affection for, and sensemaking of, the city, which in turn engenders visual landscapes. I first outline poetics as the art of inhabiting, which generates affection for the city, drawing on the writings of Gaston Bachelard, Michel de Certeau, and Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari. Next, I examine how the poetics of photography is crafted in terms of creative sensemaking, where the affected body attunes to percepts and finds resonance with the city's vital forces, thereby enabling poetical landscapes to be captured by the lens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As electricity demand increases, especially in transportation, renewable sources such as solar energy become more important. The direct integration of solar energy in rail transportation mostly involves utilizing station roofs and track side spaces. This paper proposes a novel approach by proposing the integration of photovoltaic systems directly on the roofs of trains to generate clean electricity and reduce dependence on the main grid. Installing solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on train rooftops can reduce energy costs and emissions and develop a more sustainable and ecological rail transport system. This research focuses on the Milan Cadorna-Saronno railway line, examining the feasibility of installing PV panels onto train rooftops to generate power for the train's internal consumption, including lighting and air conditioning. In addition, it is a solution to reduce the power absorbed by the train from the main supply. Simulations conducted using PVSOL software 2023 (R7) indicate that equipping a train roof with PV panels could supply up to almost 10% of the train's auxiliary power needs, equating to over 600 MWh annually. Implementing the suggested system may also result in a decrease of more than 27 tons of CO2 emissions per year for one train. To optimize the performance of PV systems and maximize power output, the gravitational search algorithm (GSA) as an evolutionary-based method is proposed alongside a DC/DC boost converter and its performance is compared with two other main maximum power point tracking (MPPT) methods of perturb and observe (PO), and incremental conductance (INC). The accuracy of the suggested algorithm was confirmed utilizing MATLAB SIMULINK R2023b, and the results were compared with those of the PO and INC algorithms. The findings indicate that the GSA performs better in terms of accuracy, while the PO and INC algorithms demonstrate greater robustness and dynamic response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil microbiome science, rapidly evolving, predominantly focuses on field crop soils. However, understanding garden soil microbiomes is essential for enhancing food production sustainability in garden environments. This study aimed to unveil the bacteriome diversity and composition in rooftop garden soils (RGS) and surface garden soils (SGS) across urban (Dhaka North and Dhaka South City Corporations) and peri-urban (Gazipur City Corporation) areas of Dhaka Division, Bangladesh. We analyzed 11 samples, including six RGS and five SGS samples from 11 individual gardens using 16S rRNA (V3–V4 region) gene-based amplicon sequencing. A total of 977 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), including 270 and 707 in RGS and SGS samples, respectively, were identified. The observed OTUs were represented by 21 phyla, 45 classes, 84 orders, 173 families, and 293 genera of bacteria. Alpha diversity indices revealed significantly higher bacterial diversity in SGS samples (p = 0.01), while beta diversity analyses indicated distinct bacteriome compositions between RGS and SGS samples (p = 0.028, PERMANOVA). Despite substantial taxonomic variability between sample categories, there was also a considerable presence of shared bacterial taxa. At the phylum level, Bacilliota (61.14%), Pseudomonadota (23.42%), Actinobacteria (6.33%), and Bacteroidota (3.32%) were the predominant bacterial phyla (comprising > 94.0% of the total abundances) in both types of garden soil samples. Of the identified genera, Bacillus (69.73%) and Brevibacillus (18.81%) in RGS and Bacillus (19.22%), Methylophaga (19.21%), Acinetobacter (6.27%), Corynebacterium (5.06%), Burkholderia (4.78%), Paracoccus (3.98%) and Lysobacter (2.07%) in SGS were the major bacterial genera. Importantly, we detected that 52.90% of genera were shared between RGS and SGS soil samples. Our data reveal unique and shared bacteriomes with probiotic potential in soil samples from both rooftop and surface gardens. Further studies should explore the functional roles of shared bacterial taxa in garden soils and how urban environmental factors affect microbiome composition to optimize soil health and sustainable food production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ember accumulation on and around homes can lead to spot fires and home ignition. Post wildland fire assessments suggest that this mechanism is one of the leading causes of home destruction in wildland urban interface (WUI) fires. However, the process of ember deposition and accumulation on and around houses remains poorly understood. Herein, we develop a deep learning (DL) model to analyze data from a series of ember-related wind tunnel experiments for a range of wind conditions and roof slopes. The developed model is designed to identify building roof regions where embers will remain in contact with the rooftop. Our results show that the DL model is capable of accurately predicting the position and fraction of the roof on which embers remain in place as a function of the wind speed, wind direction, roof slope, and location on the windward and leeward faces of the rooftop. The DL model was augmented with explainable AI (XAI) measures to examine the extent of the influence of these parameters on the rooftop ember coverage and potential ignition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs) entail the use of photovoltaics as building materials, such as windows, roofs, and walls. Owing to their electricity-generation ability, BIPVs have become popular building materials for green buildings. This study involves an economic feasibility analysis of BIPVs for an agricultural research and development center in Fiji. The computerized relative allocation of facilities technique (CRAFT) is extended for cost-efficient facility design, and the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of BIPVs is evaluated to identify feasible alternatives from among three options, namely roof-integrated, window, and rooftop BIPVs. From the experiments, the LCOE values of the roof-integrated, window, and rooftop BIPVs were USD 0.13/kWh, 0.17/kWh, and 0.09/kWh, respectively. Moreover, the profit for the window BIPV was negative when the discount rate was greater than 0.08 due to its inefficient productivity. Contrarily, the roof-integrated BIPV showed a reasonable LCOE even though it required the highest investment cost. Nevertheless, further efforts are needed to reduce the cost of BIPVs for practical implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pembangkit listrik tenaga surya (PLTS) merupakan salah satu pembangkit energi listrik terbarukan yang ramah lingkungan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memanfaatkan PLTS sebagai sumber energi listrik dan sekaligus mendapatkan analisis kelayakan teknis dan ekonomi PLTS atap on grid di Hotel Rayz Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM). Analisa kelayakan PLTS ini memanfaatkan atas atap seluas 267,2 m2. Kapasitas instalasi maksimal yang direkomendasikan sebesar 37,4 kWp. Energi yang dihasilkan sistem PLTS pada kelistrikan Hotel Rayz-UMM dalam setahun sebesar 55.341 kWh. Nilai kelayakan teknis ditinjau dari efektifitas pembangkit (ACEGE) memperoleh sebesar 10,8%, sedangkan nilai performance ratio (PR) dihasilkan sebesar 60,1%. Hasil analisis ekonomi menunjukkan bahwa nilai net present value (NPV) negative sebesar -Rp. 149.199.260,7, nilai benefit cost ratio (BCR) sebesar 1,8 dan nilai payback period (PP) sebesar 13,65. Dari hasil analisa teknik dan ekonomi tersebut, PLTS atap di Hotel Rayz-UMM belum layak dibangun.

In this study, a grid-connected solar photovoltaic plant (SPV) is designed, evaluated and analysed to meet the energy consumption of the College of Science and Technology in Siirt province, Turkey. The comprehensive financial and technical statistics in relation to parameters utilised within the system are presented alongside thorough economic and environmental evaluations. The design, economics, and technical evaluation of the system are supported by using PVsyst, PV*SOL and HOMER Pro. Based on the findings of the analysis, it has been determined that the photovoltaic installation is projected to provide an estimated 762 MWh of energy. In the economic evaluation conducted, the internal rate of return (IRR) was determined to be 19.55 %, the net present value (NPV) was calculated to be 346,085 USD with Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) of 0.1892 USD/kWh. In addition, the payback period of the photovoltaic plant is determined to be 17.4 years. The implementation of the photovoltaic panel system will result in an estimated reduction of roughly 6852 tonnes of carbon dioxide (tCO2) emissions.

In this article, we present the investigation and outcomes for the deployment of a mini-photovoltaic power system of 800 Wp installed on the rooftop of a guard post at applied research in renewable energy (URAER) in the desert area of Ghardaia. The objective is to characterize and evaluate the behavior and dynamic performance of this kind of photovoltaic plant. The PV system is equipped with photovoltaic panels, a solar regulator (DC/DC), an inverter (DC/AC), and batteries for electrical storage. The solar regulator controls the charge and discharge of batteries. The monitoring system is based on an Agilent 34970a® data logger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exponential growth of population and industries has brought about an increase in energy consumption, causing severe climatic and environmental problems. Therefore, the move towards green renewable energy is being ever more intensified. This study aims at estimating the rooftop solar power production for Tehran, the capital city of Iran, using a Geospatial Information System (GIS) to assess the big data of city building parcels. Tehran is faced with severe air pollution due to its excessive fossil fuel usage, and its electricity demand is increasing. As a result, this paper attempts to provide the quantified solar power potential of city roof tops for policymakers and authorities in order to facilitate decision-making in relation to integrating renewable energies into the power production infrastructure. The results shows that approximately 3000 GWh (more than 14% of the total electric energy consumption) of solar power can be produced by the rooftop PV installations in Tehran. The potential nominal power of rooftop PV installations is estimated to be more than 2000 MW, which is four times the current installed PV capacity of the whole country. The findings of the study suggest that there is great potential hidden on the rooftops of the city, which can be utilized to assist the power systems of the city in the longer run for a more sustainable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ember accumulation on and around homes can lead to spot fires and home ignition. Post wildland fire assessments suggest that this mechanism is one of the leading causes of home destruction in wildland urban interface (WUI) fires. However, the process of ember deposition and accumulation on and around houses remains poorly understood. Herein, we develop a deep learning (DL) model to analyze data from a series of ember-related wind tunnel experiments for a range of wind conditions and roof slopes. The developed model is designed to identify building roof regions where embers will remain in contact with the rooftop. Our results show that the DL model is capable of accurately predicting the position and fraction of the roof on which embers remain in place as a function of the wind speed, wind direction, roof slope, and location on the windward and leeward faces of the rooftop. The DL model was augmented with explainable AI (XAI) measures to examine the extent of the influence of these parameters on the rooftop ember coverage and potential ignition.

Copyright of Przegląd Elektrotechniczny is the property of Przeglad Elektrotechniczny and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This research aimed to evaluate the thermal performance of rooftop PV as a shading element on uninsulated roof-related HVAC energy consumption of buildings in a moderate dry–warm climate zone. A transient-state 3D distributed thermal model was developed of the PV-added rooftop components. Photovoltaic (PV) solar rooftops as shading devices were constructed using Integrated Environmental Solution-Virtual Environment Software to predict the reduction and increase in heating and cooling loads connected with the roof floor each month. The impact of rooftop PV systems on a building’s roof-related energy burden was quantified about a low-rise residential building in a moderate dry–warm climate zone represented by the city of Amman in Jordan. The results indicated that PV roof structure reduced heat gain by 10.87% during the summer and increased heat loss by 3.8% during the winter. In the summer season, the electricity demand for indoor cooling declined, but the demand for indoor heating increased slightly. The investigation focused on a middle-income home in Jordan’s capital, Amman. The limitations imposed by building rooftops on the use of PV were also investigated in this research and the findings validate the importance of providing environmental authorities, the construction industry, and ordinary individuals with important guidelines on the use of renewable energy to heat and cool buildings. Consequently, this analysis enhances awareness of a building’s overall energy needs, which are crucial for the future design of sustainable buildings.

Various types of photovoltaic (PV) modules have been developed to exploit solar energy, a major renewable energy resource. One of the popular types of PV modules is building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), which are PV modules used as building materials. The goal of this study is to conduct an economic feasibility analysis of BIPV on the rooftop of the Keith D. McFarland Science Building at Texas A&M University, Commerce, Texas. To this end, a polynomial regression (PR) model is developed to estimate the electricity generation quantity of solar energy in the subject area, where the maximum temperature is 104 °F (40 °C) in summer. The developed PR models are used to estimate the potential profit of BIPV on the rooftop of the subject building, and the results are compared with the profit of a green roof system at the subject building. The economic feasibility analyses show that the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of the green roof system is approximately 39.77% higher than that of the BIPV system at a discount rate of 5%. Thus, the BIPV system is more profitable than the green roof system; consequently, this research will contribute to the implementation of BIPV on building rooftops and the expansion of renewable energy use in preference to fossil fuel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

T he importance of solar energy as a global energy source is expected to grow. Solar power's future looks bright, especially with an aged and deteriorating energy grid and rising fossil fuel prices. More precise methods for assessment of solar capacity are needed as more homes and companies investigate the possibility of small-scale photovoltaic (PV) solar installations. In this study, a spatial solar energy PV potential assessment method based on the combination of LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) datasets and GIS (Geographic Information System) is proposed. The proposed methodology is applied to an area in the capital city of Skopje in N. Macedonia, from where the results of the possible annual energy output of PV systems for the selected rooftops were presented. The results of the study were presented in a map showing rooftops that are most suitable for installing PV systems. From this map, three random roofs were selected to perform manual estimates of the number of panels that could fit on them and the potential energy output of the solar PV systems. This study provides crucial results for financial and urban planning, policy formulation for future energy projects and also allows to analyze different mechanisms to promote PV installations on publicly available rooftops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, I introduce rooftop urbanism as a landscape between earth and sky. The concept of landscape provides a framework within which rooftop urbanism can be studied as a multi-sensuous, bodily lived relation with rooftop sites at various heights in the urban fabric. Through encounters with the materialities of the roof and the rooftoppers of the former Pioneer Health Centre in Peckham, London, I craft a rhizomatic research story. I discuss the moving landscape experienced by inhabiting a rooftop above ground level and under the sky, and how the mobile landscape can be an affective means of sense-making, connecting rooftoppers beyond the rooftop. Given that changing landscapes cannot be reconstructed, I evoke impressions using images and words, which can then be read as expressions for further thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photovoltaics (PV) is a cost-competitive and scalable technology for electricity generation that plays a crucial role to accelerate the European energy transition and achieve carbon neutrality. Large-scale installation of rooftop PV, as well as innovative PV applications such as floating PV coupled with hydropower and bifacial PV along roads and railways, offer multi-benefits, not least in reducing competition for land. In this study, we present a geospatial approach to assess the pan-European technical potential of these three applications, using publicly available datasets. The findings reveal that the PV total installed capacity could exceed 1 TWp, which is far larger than the total PV capacity for 2030 in the EU Solar Energy Strategy (720 GWp) and would be a significant contribution to the several TWs needed for the overall transition to net-zero by 2050. The evidence presented is a useful starting point for policy-setting at national and regional level, as well as for research and detailed analyses of location specific solutions.

The primary barrier to the dissemination of photovoltaic (PV) technology is its high cost as compared to other alternative options. This paper discusses some financial aspects of rooftop PV systems: module cost, BOS cost, useful lifetime, minimum attractive rate of return, and O&M cost. An equation and numerical calculation were made for estimating the unit cost of electricity of a rooftop system. The numerical calculation and simulation were made by taking the condition of Indonesia as the case study. It was assumed that (i) the useful lifetime of the PV system is 20 years, (ii) the annual maintenance cost is two percent of the total capital cost of the system, (iii) taxes and insurance costs are not to be paid, and (iv) capacity utilization is 20 percent. It is found that rooftop PV systems have the potential to provide power at competitive prices for residential with other alternative options for power generation.

In recent years, photovoltaic energy has become a popular alternative to traditional fossil fuels due to its renewable and sustainable nature, and the incentives provided by countries to encourage research and development in this field have accelerated the implementation of photovoltaic roofs. One important factor in maximizing the efficiency of solar panels is their orientation to harness maximum irradiation with minimum roof area. In this article, an optimizer-supported east–west-oriented solar power plant installation is experimentally presented to utilize more solar energy with less area compared to wide-area south orientation. Furthermore, an analysis of different angle placements is simulated by PVSOL and PVGIS to test the robustness of the presented approach, and the pros/cons of the features of the east–west and south orientation are discussed comparatively. The obtained results are promising for the ideal placement of solar systems along with the use of optimizers to further enhance their performance, and for the minimization of the economic return of such an investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a study of a 98.1 kW-PV system facing south at an inclined angle of 15º on the roof of a university building in Seoul, South Korea (latitude 37.63° N and longitude 127.1° E). The system performance was analyzed for 2 years from Sep. 2015 to Aug. 2017. The average electrical power output was 0.59 kWh/(m2·day) with a 16.9% average annual efficiency for the 1st year which further decreased to 0.58 kWh/(m2·day) with average annual efficiency of 17.6% in the 2nd year. The annual irradiance was 3.50 kWh/(m2·day) for the 1st year and 3.31 kWh/(m2·day) for the 2nd year with a total annual output generation of 105.4 MWh and 103.5 MWh, respectively. Average daily power generations were 2.93 and 2.89 kWh/(kWp·day) for 2 years, respectively, with an annual performance ratio range of 80 ~ 90%. Predicted module temperatures show a good correlation with measured temperatures. Predicted and measured output values show a strong correlation. During the 1st year at a maximum module temperature of 60ºC, power output loss was found to be 13.3%, while in the 2nd year at a maximum module temperature of 57ºC, the power output loss observed was 12.2%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the demand for electricity continues to grow in Saudi Arabia, finding ways to increase power generation becomes increasingly important. However, conventional power generation methods such as burning fossil fuels contribute significantly to environmental pollution and harm human health through the emissions of greenhouse gases. One potential solution to this problem is the use of solar energy, which has the advantage of being abundant in Saudi Arabia due to its location in the sun belt. When compared to conventional power generation methods, solar energy is a viable alternative, particularly when the indirect costs of fossil fuels, such as harm to the environment and human health, are considered. Using photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight into electrical energy is a key method for producing clean energy. Despite the initial cost of investing in solar energy infrastructure, it is ultimately less expensive than electricity derived from fossil fuels. In recognition of the potential of solar energy, the Saudi government has outlined an ambitious plan to install 41 GW of solar capacity and invest USD 108.9 billion by 2032. Additionally, financing and significant tax benefits have been provided to promote the development of the solar industry. This research article reviews the techno-economic analysis of PV power plants and examines previous policy papers and the existing research on the topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nepal possesses a good solar resource, and there has been increasing interest in the use of photovoltaic systems. About 1.1 million solar home systems, rated at nearly 30 MWp, have been installed across Nepal. With the introduction of net metering by the Nepal Electricity Authority, an increase in rooftop photovoltaics (RPV) is expected. However, to inform any policy developments around increased electricity generation, and the uptake of RPV, there is a need to quantify the potential of such systems (a situation mirrored in many developing countries). To this end, this study utilized a hierarchical geospatial technique based on open-source data to estimate the potential output from RPV in several cities in Nepal (Kathmandu, Pokhara, Butwal, Nepalgunj, and Biratnagar). It was found that the potential theoretical output of RPV ranged from 637 GWh per annum, in Kathmandu, to 50 GWh per annum in Butwal. Moreover, the total RPV potential from urban households of Nepal was estimated to be in the order 6.5 TWh per annum. As such, the findings of this paper can be used to make informed policy decisions about the future of Nepal's energy mix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rooftop rainwater harvesting means the collection of water from the rooftop of any structure. The tank is the most expensive and critical component of rainwater harvesting system. The study was conducted at an individual farm in Degučiai village to find the optimum volume of the storage tank for harvested runoff from the rooftop of the farm building in years of different humidity. The precipitation data of Šilutes region over 10 years was analyzed for the water harvesting potential. In the calculations, water demand for the vegetation period is taken into consideration according to the quantities specified by the farmer. It is determined that rainwater harvesting potential during the vegetation period is 7.53 m3 in dry years, which can meet around 24 % of the farm water needs when the catchment area is 50 m2. Even in the wettest year, the farm's water demand could be satisfied only for two months. When the catchment area is 200 m2 over 7 months' period, it would be possible to accumulate 40.16 m3 of water and it would fully satisfy four months' water demand of the farm in dry years. In wet years, all accumulated water during the vegetation period can cover all of the farm's water demands. Optimal volume of the tank is 11 m3 for dry and average humidity years, and up to 14 m3 in wet years, respectively. As it can be seen from the study, the volume of the tank mainly depends on the amount of precipitation, roof area and the farm's water demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy in Indonesia is numerous, abundant, and diverse. Almost every region in Indonesia has renewable energy sources that can be utilized to become renewable power plants, which are industrial or large-scale, small-scale, or only for regional use. Itself. PLTS is a power plant with many opportunities that can be developed in Indonesia. Based on the results of the analysis that has been carried out, several conclusions can be drawn about designing a rooftop solar power plant using the HelioScope software. The results show estimated energy production obtained through simulations using HelioScope for one year is 882,398 kWh, with the highest production occurring in May at 8,554.6 kWh and the lowest production in November at 6,120.3 kWh. HelioScope application, besides being able to display the irradiation results and production results of the designed or simulated PLTS, HelioScope also shows that there are power losses that affect PLTS production, which is caused by the temperature of the solar cell module of 6.7%. At the same time, other power losses and the most negligible effect are caused by the conductor of 0.3%. The HelioScope application makes it easy to determine the initial design for installing solar panels for a house or building and where we want or are going. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing clean and renewable energy is crucial for progress and development. Reducing carbon emissions is the goal of using this renewable energy, resulting in a clean and healthy environment. With only a tiny CO2 emission of 20.32% or CO2 emissions reduced by up to 79.69%, solar energy is regarded as one of the most environmentally friendly renewable energy sources. The method used in this study is to simulate the creation of PLTS with the HelioScope web application with a design project for the Kadudampit sub-district office, Sukabumi district. The results of this study are that with the use of new renewable energy (EBT) for solar power plants (PLTS), the monthly energy production obtained is relatively stable, with yields ranging from 1,041.5 kWh - 1,568.1 kWh, and the annual energy production got is 14,853.7 kWh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs) entail the use of photovoltaics as building materials, such as windows, roofs, and walls. Owing to their electricity-generation ability, BIPVs have become popular building materials for green buildings. This study involves an economic feasibility analysis of BIPVs for an agricultural research and development center in Fiji. The computerized relative allocation of facilities technique (CRAFT) is extended for cost-efficient facility design, and the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of BIPVs is evaluated to identify feasible alternatives from among three options, namely roof-integrated, window, and rooftop BIPVs. From the experiments, the LCOE values of the roof-integrated, window, and rooftop BIPVs were USD 0.13/kWh, 0.17/kWh, and 0.09/kWh, respectively. Moreover, the profit for the window BIPV was negative when the discount rate was greater than 0.08 due to its inefficient productivity. Contrarily, the roof-integrated BIPV showed a reasonable LCOE even though it required the highest investment cost. Nevertheless, further efforts are needed to reduce the cost of BIPVs for practical implementation.

The exponential growth of population and industries has brought about an increase in energy consumption, causing severe climatic and environmental problems. Therefore, the move towards green renewable energy is being ever more intensified. This study aims at estimating the rooftop solar power production for Tehran, the capital city of Iran, using a Geospatial Information System (GIS) to assess the big data of city building parcels. Tehran is faced with severe air pollution due to its excessive fossil fuel usage, and its electricity demand is increasing. As a result, this paper attempts to provide the quantified solar power potential of city roof tops for policymakers and authorities in order to facilitate decision-making in relation to integrating renewable energies into the power production infrastructure. The results shows that approximately 3000 GWh (more than 14% of the total electric energy consumption) of solar power can be produced by the rooftop PV installations in Tehran. The potential nominal power of rooftop PV installations is estimated to be more than 2000 MW, which is four times the current installed PV capacity of the whole country. The findings of the study suggest that there is great potential hidden on the rooftops of the city, which can be utilized to assist the power systems of the city in the longer run for a more sustainable future.

Electric vehicles (EV) have the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions. Yet, the current electric vehicle charging infrastructure utilizes electricity generated from non-renewable sources. In this study, the rooftop area of structures is analyzed to assess electricity that can be generated through solar- and wind-based technologies. Consequently, planning an electric vehicle charging infrastructure that is powered through 'clean' energy sources is presented. We developed an optimal modeling framework for the consideration of Renewable Energy Technologies (RET) along with EV infrastructure. After examining the level of technology, a MATLAB image segmentation technique was used to assess the available rooftop area. In this study, two competitive objectives including the economic cost of the system and CO2 emissions are considered. Three scenarios are examined to assess the potential of RET to meet the EV demand along with the Abu Dhabi city one while considering the life-cycle emission of RET and EV systems. When meeting only EV demand through Renewable Energy Technologies (RET), about 187 ktonnes CO2 was reduced annually. On the other hand, the best economic option was still to utilize grid-connected electricity, yielding about 2.24 Mt CO2 annually. In the scenario of meeting both 10% EV demand and all Abu Dhabi city electricity demand using RE, wind-based technology is only able to meet around 3%. Analysis carried out by studying EV penetration demonstrated the preference of using level 2 AC home chargers compared to other ones. When the EV penetration exceeds 25%, preference was observed for level 2 (AC public 3ϕ) chargers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar energy is one of the most abundant and available forms of renewable energy. Reliance on the electricity network can be decreased and net-zero energy achieved by mounting photovoltaic power on the tops of houses. Photovoltaic arrays can also change how the roof's surface reacts to its environment. The influence of the structural system of a roof and weather on the energy consumption of a building is important. This research is concerned with focusing on the indirect effect of solar photovoltaic rooftop panels (shading effect) on the roof surface to see whether this effect is worth studying and calculating the total electrical load in the residential sector. Photovoltaic panels were modeled as a shading device, and the Integrated Environmental Solution-Virtual Environment Software was used to anticipate the monthly decline and growth in heating and cooling loads associated with the roof level. The influence of a photovoltaic system on a building's roof-related energy load was measured concerning low-rise residential buildings in Mafraq city, which belongs to a mild dry-warm temperature zone. The findings indicated that a solar roof structure decreased heat loss by 4.85% in the summer and boosted heat transfer by 5.54% in the winter. The results highlight that renewable energy is very important in our times due to climate change and the increased demand for electricity by the residential sector, which is stimulated to find multiple ways to decrease and adapt to this change, and the aim of this paper helps to encourage to use solar energy by identifying the indirect effect of solar panels on building's rooftops. This investigation also focuses on the value of offering essential instructions to who is concerned to the utilization of alternative energy to heat and cool structures, also will educate the public on a building's total energy requirements, which is critical for future green structure design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the essential and non-essential elements in lettuce cultivated on a rooftop urban garden in the metropolitan region of São Paulo. In addition, the human health risks associated with the potentially toxic metals based on the estimated daily intake (EDI), the target hazard quotient (THQ), and the possible sources of heavy metal contamination by multivariate statistical were analyzed. The lettuces contain essential macronutrients such as K, Ca, and Mg. The Cd, Cu, and Pb concentrations did not exceed the Brazilian legislation limit. Ba, Ni, Cr, Co, and Pb presented low levels compared to oral reference dose and they may be associated to vehicles emissions. Both EDI and THQ values suggested minimal risk upon consumption of lettuce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various types of photovoltaic (PV) modules have been developed to exploit solar energy, a major renewable energy resource. One of the popular types of PV modules is building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), which are PV modules used as building materials. The goal of this study is to conduct an economic feasibility analysis of BIPV on the rooftop of the Keith D. McFarland Science Building at Texas A&M University, Commerce, Texas. To this end, a polynomial regression (PR) model is developed to estimate the electricity generation quantity of solar energy in the subject area, where the maximum temperature is 104 °F (40 °C) in summer. The developed PR models are used to estimate the potential profit of BIPV on the rooftop of the subject building, and the results are compared with the profit of a green roof system at the subject building. The economic feasibility analyses show that the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of the green roof system is approximately 39.77% higher than that of the BIPV system at a discount rate of 5%. Thus, the BIPV system is more profitable than the green roof system; consequently, this research will contribute to the implementation of BIPV on building rooftops and the expansion of renewable energy use in preference to fossil fuel.

The scarcity of public open space has compelled urbanites to use residential rooftops as an interaction space. In Dhaka, rooftops are used for various social and recreational purposes which has extensively increased due to COVID-19 restrictions. During this period, few rooftops are used frequently while few are less occupied. Hence, the study identifies different variables that impact rooftop activities and finds correlations between them using the Pearson correlation coefficient. The study further shows the direction for accelerating the use of rooftops as an interaction space in residential buildings. Highlights for public administration, management and planning: Rooftops represent important places of public life in Dhaka. The variables that affect the social and recreational activities of residential rooftop space are analysed. Statistically significant correlations were found between rooftop occupied by various services and number of activities, floor dampness and number of activities, the rooftop occupied by various services and a comfort zone with a pleasant view, parapet height and number of activities, and parapet height and safety. The paper sets recommendations for designing and managing rooftop spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the potential of the rooftop application of solar PV in commercial buildings. It focuses on four types of commercial buildings: shopping malls, offices, hotels, and hospitals. Besides the technical aspects of the technology, the study investigated important features of building roofs such as architectural and structural details, services, maintenance, and access requirements. It examines 105 buildings with the help of remote sensing techniques. Site visits of sample buildings are also undertaken to have a detailed assessment of the relevant roof features. The examined roof restrictions have been identified and classified into five major categories. The average utilization factor has been found to be 0.53, 0.35, 0.34, and 0.23 for shopping malls, hospitals, offices, and hotels respectively. The overall UF for the studied 105 buildings has been calculated to be 0.49. Four case study buildings, one representing each of the four types of buildings, have been investigated for their roof restrictions, utilization factor, and PV output. The PV modeling results reveal an annual output of 285 kWh/m2. The modeled PV output has also been validated with the output data of an actual PV project. Finally, PV systems have been analyzed for their economic and environmental performance. • Roofs of 105 commercial buildings have been examined for hurdles to PV utilization • Four types of commercial buildings – shopping malls, hotels, office buildings, and hospitals-have been investigated • 16 types of hurdles have been identified and classified into four main categories • The overall utilization factor for the studied building roofs has been calculated to be 0.49. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Canada goose (Branta canadensis) population has radically changed over the past 60 years—from once being extirpated in the state of Indiana to the current level of approximately 113,000. High urban densities have resulted in persistent human–wildlife conflicts and novel interactions between geese and their physical environment. Canada geese typically choose nest sites that are on the ground or slightly elevated sites such as muskrat lodge, but we report observations of Canada geese nesting on rooftops 2.6–12.2 m above ground level in central Indiana. These observations suggest that alternative, unpredicted nesting sites are being chosen over more traditional sites, in a likely attempt to reduce risks of disturbance and predation. This atypical nest‐site selection may pose new management challenges, but further research is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presented an actual comprehensive assessment of a 1.32 kWp rooftop grid-connected photovoltaic system for residential buildings in Central Vietnam under the tropical monsoon climate. Operational parameters of the gridconnected photovoltaic system were monitored from August 2020 to July 2021. It consists of four photovoltaic modules, a microinverter, and a two-way energy meter. The analysis results of energy performance provided a performance ratio of 78.11%, a capacity utilization factor of 15.07%, and an annual overall system efficiency of 12.89%. In addition, the financial and environmental analysis of the system also indicated that the levelized cost of electricity was pretty low (i.e., 0.063 USD/kWh), the discounted payback period was 5 years, and 1.5 tons CO2 was reduced per year. The results of the analysis were compared and evaluated with other grid-connected photovoltaic systems in the same Southeast Asia region, and they revealed that the integration of the grid-connected photovoltaic system into the distribution grid in Central Vietnam is superior. The obtained data can be used as a guide for applying grid-connected photovoltaic systems in other locations with similar climates, as well as to assist the government in developing a more appropriate rate of feed-in-tariff for real-time grid-connected photovoltaic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]