Determining solar energy potential from space
The new Solar Atlas by DLR shows which roofs are suitable for solar panels. Presented at ILA 2024, the map uses aerial images and geospatial data to determine solar energy potential in German cities.
The question of which roofs are suitable for solar installations and what output can be achieved there is answered by the new solar atlas from the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt – DLR). This map, which was presented at the ILA 2024 in Berlin, uses current aerial images and basic geodata, processed using machine learning methods. This made it possible to determine the solar energy potential for around 20 million buildings in cities such as Berlin, Dresden, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Hamburg. The results are publicly available at eosolar.dlr.de.
Technology meets sustainability
Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla, Chairwoman of the DLR Executive Board, emphasizes the importance of the Solar Atlas for the energy transition: “In order to develop and implement effective strategies and instruments for the expansion of rooftop solar installations, decision-makers need precise information on the current stock and expansion potential. The satellite-based information provided by DLR supports the energy transition and becomes a driver for innovative products and business models.” The Solar Atlas shows how successfully earth observation can be used for climate protection and the sustainable expansion of energy generation.
Data evaluation and methodology
In the EO Solar project, scientists at the DLR Earth Observation Center are combining several terabytes of data. This includes digital, distortion-free aerial images with a resolution of 20 centimetres and high-resolution surface models provided by the Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy. “In order to describe the current expansion potential for solar energy, we calculate the possible electrical output based on the hours of sunshine, the radiation intensity, the orientation of the roof surfaces and the shading from neighboring buildings or vegetation,” explains Annekatrin Metz-Marconcini, head of the EO Solar project.
Artificial intelligence and practical applications
DLR has developed a process that uses artificial intelligence to identify roofs with installed solar panels worldwide from high-resolution remote sensing data. In Germany, the market master data register, which records all registered solar installations on a daily basis, is also included. This method uses digital surface models of the terrain, which automatically takes into account shading from trees and the surrounding terrain. This means that even countries without detailed building models can calculate their solar energy potential and include it in their planning.
Support for political decision-makers
In contrast to existing solar atlases of federal states, districts or municipalities, the DLR Solar Atlas systematically maps the entire country in an up-to-date manner. This provides political decision-makers and planners with a sound basis for promoting the expansion of solar installations in a targeted manner. A similar map has already been created for Austria as part of an ESA project. For data protection reasons, solar expansion in Germany is shown at municipal, district or federal state level.
Forward-looking energy planning
With the new solar atlas, DLR is creating a valuable resource for the planning and implementation of sustainable energy projects. It enables a precise assessment of solar energy potential and thus supports the transition to a climate-friendly energy supply.