Energy calculations

GRASS GIS and solar energy calculations

• PVGIS: Geographical Assessment of Solar Energy Resource and Photovoltaic Technology
  • Interactive maps: result maps
  • PVGIS: information on the methodology

Documents in English

• GRASS4LEED: Building geospatial support for Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design. (http://www.foss4g2006.org/contributionDisplay.py?contribId=188&sessionId=40&confId=1)
• Photovoltaic Geographical Information System (PVGIS, based on r.sun) (http://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvgis/)
• Solar Lab tutorial http://istgeo.ist.supsi.ch/site/?q=node/3
• Hofierka, J & Šúri, M, 2002: The solar radiation model for Open source GIS: implementation and applications, Proceedings of the Open source GIS - GRASS users conference 2002 - Trento, Italy, 11-13 September 2002, PDF
• Huld, T. A., Šúri, M., Dunlop, E. D., 2003: GIS-based Estimation of Solar Radiation and PV Generation in Central and Eastern Europe on the Web. 9th EC-GI&GIS Workshop, A Coruña (Spain), 25-27 June, PDF
• Šúri, M., Huld, T. A., Dunlop, E. D., Hofierka, J. (2007): Solar resource modelling for energy applications. In: Peckham R.J., Jordan G. (eds.) Digital Terrain Modelling, Development and Applications in a Policy Support Environment, Series: Lecture Notes in Geoinformation and Cartography, Springer, pp. 259-273, ISBN: 978-3-540-36730-7
• Hofierka, J. Solar radiation in the Slovak republic, PDF
• Hofierka, J., Kaňuk, J. (2009): Assessment of Photovoltaic Potential in Urban Areas Using Open-Source Solar Radiation Tools. Renewable Energy. In Press.
• ISIS: International Solar Information Solutions. Solar analyses using GRASS, based largely on the work done for PVGIS (http://www.isi-solutions.org)
• Search for GRASS GIS energy in Google Scholar

Documents in Italian

• Mondogis N. 61 (luglio/agosto 2007): Il portale energetico sulle energie rinnovabili per la città di Laives PDF (GRASS, PostGIS)
• Paolo Zatelli. Valutazione di radiazione solare diretta su falde di tetti inclinati con GRASS. IX Meeting degli Utenti Italiani di GRASS GIS-GFOSS. (http://www.grassmeeting2008.unipg.it/?q=node/9)

GRASS GIS modules

• GRASS modules r.horizon and r.sun

Renewable energy including biomass or hydropower

Overview

r.green computes the residual energy potential of different renewable energies like biomass or hydropower. The tool is organized in the modules r.green.hydro and r.green.biomass for which are composed of several programs considering different limits (e.g. theoretical, recommended, legal, technical, ecological and economic constraints). These different scenarios can be compared so that the residual energy potential and the suitable places for constructing a new power plant can be identified.

GRASS GIS modules

• r.green: Computes the residual energy potential of different renewable energies like biomass or hydropower.

Helper tool:

• r.green.install: Check if everything is correctly installed and configured

Biomass

• r.green.biomassfor.co2: Calculates impact and multifunctionality values
• r.green.biomassfor.financial: Estimates bioenergy that can be collected to supply heating plants or biomass logistic centres and that is associated with a positive net revenue for the entire production process
• r.green.biomassfor: Compute the energy potential of biomass from the forestry residues, considering different limits and constraints
• r.green.biomassfor.impact: Calculates impact and multifunctionality values
• r.green.biomassfor.legal: Estimates potential bioenergy depending on forest increment, forest management and forest treatment
• r.green.biomassfor.recommended: Estimates potential bioenergy according to environmental restriction
• r.green.biomassfor.technical: Estimates the quantity of woody biomass obtained from a forest surface where extraction is possible given a particular level of mechanisation
• r.green.biomassfor.theoretical: Estimates potential bioenergy depending on forest increment, forest management and forest treatment

Ground Source Heat Pump

• r.green.gshp: The module r.green.gshp computes the Ground Source Heat Pump potential.
• r.green.gshp.technical: Calculate the Ground Source Heat Pump technical potential using the ASHRAE method.
• r.green.gshp.theoretical: Calculate the Ground Source Heat Pump potential

Hydropower

• r.green.hydro.closest: Move points to the closest vector map
• r.green.hydro.delplants: Delete segments where there is an existing plant
• r.green.hydro.discharge: Calculate average natural discharge and minimum flow following regional law an
• r.green.hydro.financial: Assess the financial costs and values
• r.green.hydro: The module r.green.hydro computes the hydropower potential.
• r.green.hydro.optimal: Detect the position of the potential hydropower plants that can produce the highest possible power
• r.green.hydro.planning: Calculate hydropower energy potential with user's recommendations
• r.green.hydro.structure: Compute channels and penstocks
• r.green.hydro.technical: Hydropower potential with technical constrains
• r.green.hydro.theoretical: Calculate the hydropower energy potential for each basin starting from discharge and elevation data. If existing plants are available it computes the potential installed power in the available part of the rivers.