Wind energy potential analysis in urban building clusters: A climate-coupled approach with solar considerations

Abstract

In recent years, wind energy utilization in urban building clusters has become a research focus. While many studies have explored the impact of building configuration on wind energy potential, most of them do not take actual climatic conditions into account. In this study, a model is developed to evaluate the wind-solar energy potential for urban building clusters, utilizing CFD simulations and incorporating climate data. This model systematically examines how diverse spatial configurations and regional climate factors impact wind energy potential. Furthermore, the trade-offs between wind and solar energy potential are analyzed using Pareto frontiers to identify optimal spatial configurations. Results indicates the following: (1) incorporating climate data diminishes the sensitivity of wind energy potential to building orientation compared to simulations focused on a single wind direction; (2) crucial spatial factors, such as building height ratio, floor area ratio (FAR), significantly influence the wind energy potential of building clusters; and (3) the variation in wind direction highlights the importance of building orientation in the optimization process.