The solar map of Pamplona: analysis of the city's solar potential
About this good practice
The Pamplona solar map provides information on the potential of roofs and rooftops to produce PV and thermal solar energy, as well as basic information for the analysis of the amortization of the potential installation.
It allows to compare our consumption with the energy we can produce; therefore, it is an incentive to mobilize private investment in this sector and move towards clean energy transition.
On the other hand, thanks to this tool, it will be possible to establish guidelines for the elaboration of complementary maps to identify outdoor spaces where thermal comfort problems may occur.
Within the framework of the Solar Map of the City of Pamplona, a computer application was developed that allows the determination of solar radiation and its photovoltaic and thermal uses in the different planes that make up the digital surface model of the municipal district of Pamplona. The results are accessible with the municipal GIS viewer GeoPamplona, freely available through the municipal website (https://www.pamplona.es/la-ciudad/geopamplona).
The aim is to create an intuitive and easy to use tool that allows both citizens and installation companies to prepare basic information for the analysis of the amortization of the solar installation, since it allows to compare our consumption with the energy we can produce on our roof and, therefore, is an incentive to mobilize private investment in this sector and move towards clean energy transition.
Resources needed
Contract with the Engineering Department of the Public University of Navarra (UPNA): 18,000 (VAT included).
Three experts from UPNA worked on the project during six months in collaboration with municipal staff from different municipal units.
Evidence of success
Results:
- Composition of the typical meteorological year.
- Map of annual global radiation.
- Maps of potential PV electrical production and of thermal production.
- Considerations about thermal comfort in the city.
The PV capacity installed for self-consumption in the city has increased exponentially since 2019, partly due to the solar map and citizens and bussinesses’ information requirements:
Year Self-comsumption PV power
2019 146 kW
2020 418 kW
2021 820 kW
2022 (30/6/22) 740 kW
Potential for learning or transfer
Pamplona has the potential to generate 76% of the electrical energy demand of the city with solar photovoltaic installations on building roofs.
This figure, which may be very similar to that of many other European cities, is one of the main indicators to convince citizens of the possibilities of using solar energy in urban buildings.
It is therefore an incentive to mobilize private investment in this sector and to move towards the energy transition.
Moreover, thanks to this tool, it will be possible to establish guidelines for drawing up complementary maps to identify outdoor spaces where thermal comfort problems may occur.