Ameera Azeez
How Forma’s solar energy analysis tool can support sustainable outcomes from day one of the planning process
Solar energy analysis is a new addition to Autodesk Forma‘s ever-growing suite of sustainability tools. This new analysis helps you identify the potential for solar energy during the initial stages of planning, enabling you to make high-impact design decisions that improve the business and sustainability outcomes of your project.
The growing climate challenge
Climate change, population growth and rapid urbanization — today’s architects face a complex array of challenges to build greener spaces while adhering to sustainability regulations and reducing a project’s carbon footprint.
One way for design teams to get closer to achieving climate goals is by factoring in renewable energy production on site and installing solar panels that convert sunlight into electricity. However, despite being recognized for their positive impact on the sustainability of a project, photovoltaic systems are rarely evaluated and assessed during the early stages of planning.
The benefits are clear: When architects prioritize qualifying the viability of solar energy early in the design process, they can save time and effort, and help maximize the impact of sustainable energy on subsequent phases of the building life cycle. On the flip side, if solar panels are only considered much later during the construction phase, there are risks of complications, required modifications, project delays, aesthetic considerations and trade-offs which may counterbalance the benefits of adding a solar panel system to your design.
Forma drives function
Traditionally it has been a challenge for architects to incorporate early evaluation of solar panels in a project as it requires in-depth technical skills and complex tools to measure their impact, and complicated workflows. This is where Forma’s new easy-to-use solar energy analysis can step in.
Autodesk Forma supports the digital delivery of projects from day one, offering a solid platform to harness conceptual design capabilities, predictive analytics, and automation. With the solar energy analysis as part of Forma’s analytics capabilities you can leverage it to best harness the sun in your project right from the beginning. It will help you identify which facades or roofs on your building have the most exposure to sun radiation and estimate how much power can be produced by these solar panels annually.
Solar energy analysis — how does it work?
Integrated into your massing model in Forma, the Solar Energy Analysis will respond to any geometry added to the project. It takes into account the influence of surrounding model context, such as terrain, vegetation and buildings, and climate to provide immediate insights into the annual solar energy potential. This analysis quantifies the potential in terms of kW/sq.m or sq.ft.
With this as the base, design teams can explore different options and assess where it makes most sense to integrate solar panels into the roof and/or facade to obtain the best energy yield. These insights can also be utilized to optimize the siting, orientation, and form of a building for maximum solar exposure. This powerful tool not only assists architects in reducing a project’s carbon footprint, but also alleviates the pressure faced by other stakeholders who are navigating the global energy crisis.
Greener construction outcomes
Testing and optimizing designs for solar energy previously required much time and investment; now it takes just a few clicks With Forma, these analysis results are clearly displayed in the design, and the 3D models show in real time how changes affect the solar energy potential. A risk-free test environment not only makes the planning process more efficient but allows architects and planners to get inspired and use the tool to evaluate design variants for the best solar energy yields and sustainability outcomes.
While harnessing solar energy, photovoltaic panels can also serve as bespoke architectural elements that enhances a building’s visual appeal. Beyond just rooftop or facade panels, designers can also consider how building elements such as roof tiles, windows, and shading elements could double as solar panels.
Autodesk Forma’s solar energy analysis offers a great starting point for projects requiring sustainability certification or the design of net-zero energy buildings. With this tool, you as architects are empowered to ask more informed questions, highlight challenges, and together with your teams, find the most effective ways to generate solar energy in your projects.
The solar energy analysis is currently available to Forma users in beta, with ongoing development and new capabilities coming soon. For more information about this feature, please visit our Help center. We encourage you to try it out and provide your valuable feedback through the Forma user forum.