Solar Energy in Urban Planning: Interview with Maria Wall
December 2017 - PDF 0.25MB
The IEA SHC Programme is finishing its work on Solar Energy in Urban Planning (Task 51). To learn first hand about the impact Task 51 has had in this field, we asked Maria Wall, the Task Operating Agent, a few questions as a teaser before next year’s wrap-up article on the Task’s results.

Summer School with a Twist
SHC Solar Update - December 2016
December 2016 - PDF 0.36MB
The recently held summer school, “City in Transformation: Energy and the Urban Environment“ brought students together with researchers and teachers in combination with the IEA SHC Task on Solar Energy in Urban Planning. Over the course of a week, students from different fields and German universities developed a master plan for solar optimized buildings in an area of Berlin’s Adlershof district and then publically presented project designs.

Promoting Solar Energy While Preserving Urban Context
SHC Solar Update - May 2016
May 2016 - PDF 0.5MB
New energy regulations, together with mandatory solar fractions for electricity and Domestic Hot Water are introducing new materialities and geometries in buildings, resulting in new forms of architectural expression that are slowly modifying our city landscapes. The increased use of active solar collectors in buildings is clearly necessary and welcome, but brings major challenges in already existing environments. The large size of solar systems at the building scale asks for thoughtful planning, as these systems may end up compromising the quality of the building, threatening the identity of entire contexts.

State-of-the-Art: Solar Energy in Urban Planning Education
SHC Solar Update - November 2015
November 2015 - PDF 0.18MB
Publisher: IEA SHC
Education and dissemination are important issues for SHC Task 51 on Solar Energy in Urban Planning. As part of this work, Subtask D experts are focusing on educational issues to strengthen the knowledge and competence in solar energy and urban planning of relevant stakeholders, including university students, planners and other professionals. The creation of a substantial link between research and education as well as between research and practice is the core of Subtask D. This subtask is working to determine where deficits currently exist and then will evaluate the reasons for these deficits and propose solutions and strategies to overcome these shortcomings.