A large portion of solar energy remains unexploited. This is also the case of the Nordic countries where climate challenges, legal and cultural barriers, and economic constraints prevent optimal exploitation of solar energy.
In this context, the project HELIOS aims to turn the Nordic conditions into unique opportunities to accelerate the use of solar energy and the deployment of solar systems in the Nordic built environment through digital techniques using Trondheim as a pilot city.
HELIOS develops an advanced co-simulation approach by combining numerical equations, algorithms, and simulation tools with observational data, in-field experimental campaigns, and monitoring of solar irradiance. The solar cadaster, grounded on this approach, contributes to change the role of solar energy in the Nordics by demonstrating the unexploited solar energy potential and expanding scientific knowledge dealing with complex urban phenomena (e.g. solar inter-building reflections, shadow cast) in various spatial domains (building, neighborhood, and city) and predicting solar energy potential at multiple temporal terms (short, mid and long).
The HELIOS open access user-friendly 3D model platform, which will be developed in the project, has twofold goals:
The HELIOS project is funded by the Research Council of Norway (RCN-NFR), is led by NTNU and involves HEPIA and the LOCIE laboratory (Savoie Technolac). HEPIA will bring its experience acquired through the projects G2 Solaire (solar cadastre of Greater Geneva) and VALES (solar facades), in return, the HELIOS project will contribute to improve the tools developed by HEPIA.
Project partner(s)
Project leader - team
Gilles Desthieux
(HEPIA)