A comparative analysis of GIS-based tools for accurate photovoltaic potential prediction at urban scale

In the current context of energy transition, there is a heightened focus on renewable energy sources. In urban environments, specific interest has been generated by photovoltaic technologies due to their ability to be integrated into roofs without requiring additional lands space. Geographic Information Systems are capable of identifying the most productive pitches and rationalising the panel installation process by estimating solar radiation accurately. Existing literature proposes studies based on different methodologies and tools, often relying on default values and simplifications. This paper aims to define a set of common and reliable input parameters, thus making it possible to compute the photovoltaic potential based on alternative open and commercial tools – embedded in QGIS and ArcGIS Pro respectively. The evaluation has been conducted on multiple temporal scales, focusing on three Areas of Interest with different characteristics. Different trends emerged, with QGIS results being correlated to the Linke turbidity factor and ArcGIS ones to the Diffuse-to-Global radiation ratio. Results are validated against PVGIS, showing a higher correlation with the QGIS tool.