Early design phase evaluation of urban solar potential: insights from the analysis of six projects

This paper presents the outcome of a study based on the early-stage analysis of six virtual urban-scale de-signs located in Bern, Switzerland. A preliminary so-lar potential evaluation methodology is devised, in-spired by previous studies, to allow the comparison of the projects’ potential for exploiting solar energy through passive (e.g. daylight) and active (e.g. pho-tovoltaic) measures. The workflow employed distin-guishes itself by integrating and confronting conflict-ing performance indicators and geometrical param-eters. Findings show diversity in the performance among the different designs, while also highlighting the need to review the definition of urban solar poten-tial and refine its assessment.