Coalville, Leicestershire, UK, 21 January 2015 – A prototype version of a website has been launched which allows homeowners, solar installers and manufacturers, energy companies and government organisations to assess the suitability of individual properties for solar energy technology. The online system employs high resolution geographic data, such as aerial photography and LiDAR, as well as address records to accurately identify and assess a building’s suitability. This information is combined with details of actual energy tariffs, expected consumption, cost of installation and available subsidies to calculate the potential return on investment for solar renewable energy systems. The result of a three-year, 2.4 million euro EC funded research project – the EAGLE Platform – is now demonstrated at www.eaglesolar.eu.
“The EAGLE Platform achieves three specific goals,” commented James Eddy, Technical Coordinator for the EAGLE Project and Director of UK aerial mapping company Bluesky. “It provides easy to understand, objective yet accurate information about Renewable Energy Systems for a specific dwelling or building. This allows for the calculation of return on investment for any given scenario as well as potentially reduced installation costs. In turn this information can be used to target consumers with information and educational campaigns.”
The research project initially focused on the exploitation of geographic data, such as aerial photography and LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), for the automatic extraction of information relating to the suitability of a property for renewable energy generation. The second element of the project, now live, was to create a web based portal to deliver this information to energy companies, government organisations, installers and individuals, providing unbiased information for selected small areas.
“The EAGLE Platform is different,” concluded Eddy. “Underpinned by a wide spectrum of geographic information, including 3D imaging such as LiDAR as well as more traditional aerial photographs, address and cadastre data, it is more accurate, reliable and objective than other systems coming to market.”
Initially focused on solar power generation, the longer term aims of the project are to also encompass other types of renewable energy such as wind, hydro and ground source heat. It is hoped this will make the EAGLE Platform the industry’s renewables portal, further enhancing Bluesky’s position at the forefront of this technology.
UK based aerial mapping Bluesky provided technical lead for the EC funded project with other project partners, including the Solar Trade Association in the UK, Svensk Solenergi of Sweden, Solar Macedonia, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Sonnenenergie from Germany, as well as the Universities of Leicester UK, Karlsruhe and Stuttgart in Germany and Selcuk in Turkey. Two SMEs also participated: SolarTech in the UK and Solimipeks of Turkey. The project was managed by the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE).
The title of the research project is “Development and demonstration of a dynamic, web based, renewable energy rating platform” and is funded by the Commission of the European Communities under Framework Programme 7. Framework Programmes (for Research and Technological Development) are funding programmes created by the European Union to support and encourage research. The total fund awarded is 2.4 million Euros commencing from the project start date of 1st November 2011.
About Bluesky
Bluesky is a UK-based specialist in aerial survey including aerial photography, LiDAR and thermal data using the very latest survey technology, including an UltraCam Eagle and an Orion M300 LiDAR system. An internationally recognised leader with projects extending around the globe, Bluesky is proud to work with prestigious organisations such as Google, the BBC and Government Agencies. Bluesky has unrivalled expertise in the creation of seamless, digital aerial photography and maintains national “off the shelf” coverage of aerial photography, DTM and DSM through an on-going 3 year update programme. By purchasing a World first sensor for the simultaneous capture of LiDAR, Thermal and Aerial Photography data Bluesky is in the enviable position of being able to provide customers with unique and cost effective solutions. Bluesky is also leading the way in developing innovative solutions for environmental applications including the UK’s first National Tree Map (NTM), solar mapping and citywide ‘heat loss’ maps and is currently developing noise and air quality mapping products. www.bluesky-world.com