Thermal Impacts of Solar Panels on Environment Surrounded by Medium- and High-Rise Buildings

By employing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software (Ansys Fluent), we examined the thermal effects of vertical solar panels on the south-facing facades of mid-rise (50 m) and high-rise (100 m) buildings in a 5 × 5 idealized urban environment. Four configurations were analyzed in this study: no installation, evenly distributed, concentrated, and panels on both sides. Vertical solar panel installations were affected by building temperatures and pedestrian-level thermal environments. In the leeward streets of central buildings, pedestrian-level temperatures progressively increased by row, with the even distribution showing significant heat accumulation. For 100 m buildings, the average temperature under the even distribution configuration increased from 35.6 °C (no panels) to 39.5 °C (a difference of 3.9 °C, approximately 10.96%).