Impact of Urban Block Morphology on Solar Availability in Severe Cold High-Density Cities: A Case Study of Residential Blocks in Harbin
Improving solar availability in urban blocks is vital to promoting energy conservation and emissions reduction. However, there are very few studies on the impact of block morphology on solar energy availability in high-density cities based on the particularities of climate and solar energy resources...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| author | Yaoxuan Fang Zheming Liu Yingjie Jia Muxuan Ke Ruibing Yang Yiyang Cai |
| author_facet | Yaoxuan Fang Zheming Liu Yingjie Jia Muxuan Ke Ruibing Yang Yiyang Cai |
| author_sort | Yaoxuan Fang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Improving solar availability in urban blocks is vital to promoting energy conservation and emissions reduction. However, there are very few studies on the impact of block morphology on solar energy availability in high-density cities based on the particularities of climate and solar energy resources in severe cold regions at higher latitudes. This study took 434 block models generated through seven orientation conditions of 62 residential blocks in Harbin, China, as its research object. Through numerical simulations and statistical analysis, it revealed the quantitative relationship between block morphology and the availability of active photovoltaic and solar thermal collector technologies and passive thermal heating technologies. The results show that active solar technology has the highest availability in multi-story enclosed residential blocks, and passive thermal heating has the highest availability in the multi-high-level mixed-row type. The south façade of the building has the greatest active and passive solar availability. The overall active solar availability of the residential block is significantly negatively correlated with the mean building height, floor area ratio, and volume area ratio; it is significantly positively correlated with site coverage and the standard deviation of the building height. Controlling the block’s orientation between 15° south by west and 15° south by east can increase the active solar availability of the façade. This study provides a reference and evaluation basis for the sustainable planning and design of high-density cities in severely cold regions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5a914a01dc114788a8b93616ca2c6d5d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2073-445X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Land |
| spelling | doaj-art-5a914a01dc114788a8b93616ca2c6d5d2025-08-20T03:43:14ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2025-03-0114358110.3390/land14030581Impact of Urban Block Morphology on Solar Availability in Severe Cold High-Density Cities: A Case Study of Residential Blocks in HarbinYaoxuan Fang0Zheming Liu1Yingjie Jia2Muxuan Ke3Ruibing Yang4Yiyang Cai5Jangho Architecture College, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110006, ChinaJangho Architecture College, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110006, ChinaJangho Architecture College, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110006, ChinaJangho Architecture College, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110006, ChinaJangho Architecture College, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110006, ChinaJangho Architecture College, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110006, ChinaImproving solar availability in urban blocks is vital to promoting energy conservation and emissions reduction. However, there are very few studies on the impact of block morphology on solar energy availability in high-density cities based on the particularities of climate and solar energy resources in severe cold regions at higher latitudes. This study took 434 block models generated through seven orientation conditions of 62 residential blocks in Harbin, China, as its research object. Through numerical simulations and statistical analysis, it revealed the quantitative relationship between block morphology and the availability of active photovoltaic and solar thermal collector technologies and passive thermal heating technologies. The results show that active solar technology has the highest availability in multi-story enclosed residential blocks, and passive thermal heating has the highest availability in the multi-high-level mixed-row type. The south façade of the building has the greatest active and passive solar availability. The overall active solar availability of the residential block is significantly negatively correlated with the mean building height, floor area ratio, and volume area ratio; it is significantly positively correlated with site coverage and the standard deviation of the building height. Controlling the block’s orientation between 15° south by west and 15° south by east can increase the active solar availability of the façade. This study provides a reference and evaluation basis for the sustainable planning and design of high-density cities in severely cold regions.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/3/581solar availabilityurban block morphologyurban formsolar performance indicatorssevere cold regions |
| spellingShingle | Yaoxuan Fang Zheming Liu Yingjie Jia Muxuan Ke Ruibing Yang Yiyang Cai Impact of Urban Block Morphology on Solar Availability in Severe Cold High-Density Cities: A Case Study of Residential Blocks in Harbin Land solar availability urban block morphology urban form solar performance indicators severe cold regions |
| title | Impact of Urban Block Morphology on Solar Availability in Severe Cold High-Density Cities: A Case Study of Residential Blocks in Harbin |
| title_full | Impact of Urban Block Morphology on Solar Availability in Severe Cold High-Density Cities: A Case Study of Residential Blocks in Harbin |
| title_fullStr | Impact of Urban Block Morphology on Solar Availability in Severe Cold High-Density Cities: A Case Study of Residential Blocks in Harbin |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of Urban Block Morphology on Solar Availability in Severe Cold High-Density Cities: A Case Study of Residential Blocks in Harbin |
| title_short | Impact of Urban Block Morphology on Solar Availability in Severe Cold High-Density Cities: A Case Study of Residential Blocks in Harbin |
| title_sort | impact of urban block morphology on solar availability in severe cold high density cities a case study of residential blocks in harbin |
| topic | solar availability urban block morphology urban form solar performance indicators severe cold regions |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/3/581 |
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