Solar Power Opportunities in Northern Cities (Case Study of Saint-Petersburg)

Abstract

With the purpose to ensure extra solar power for buildings and improve quality of urban environment solar power has appeared to be sought-after in the majority of southern countries. In the case of the Northwest Region of Russia estimation of existing regional power reserves for construction sector is the fundamental factor when an issue of achieving possible ways to supply buildings with solar-based power is considered. The article deals with the methods and calculations made to obtain the data on solar radiation effects on sloping surfaces oriented in different cardinal directions in regard to Saint-Petersburg weather-related conditions. Electric power generation using solar photovoltaic modules (PV modules) has been defined under actual operating conditions.