Abstract
There is an urgent need to start generating energy within cities in order to pave the way for a more sustainable and resilient
society. Renewable energy by means of active solar energy systems (solar thermal, ST and/or photovoltaics, PV) can be
generated using roofs and facades of buildings. In this study, the annual solar energy potential of typical Swedish city blocks was
analysed in order to develop guidelines for urban planners and architects. The results show that the design of the city blocks has a
significant effect (up to 50%) on the total annual solar energy production. The study also shows that the contribution from active
solar energy can be significant even in the urban environment, but shading by adjacent buildings may greatly limit the total
amount of energy produced.