Urban planning for solar energy - IEA SHC TASK 51

An increased use of solar energy is a key ingredient for forging resilient cities. This recognises the importance of the urban fabric being able to use renewable energy sources to become increasingly self-sustainable. In that regard, the integration of active solar energy systems in the built environment will allow cities to reach a high level of sustainability. In this framework, the main objective of the IEA SHC Task 51 Solar Energy in Urban Planning, was to provide support to urban planners, authorities and architects to develop urban areas with architecturally integrated solar energy solutions. The scope includes solar energy issues related to new and existing urban development areas and sensitive solar landscapes. This paper presents an overview of the Task's results from 11 countries including reviews on legal framework, barriers and opportunities, on planning processes and on educational issues. Approaches, methods and tools are presented as well as a collection of case stories with lessons learnt and a web-based learning platform.