Tag:generator:source=solar

From OpenStreetMap Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Public-images-osm logo.svg generator:source = solar
Giant photovoltaic array.jpg
Description
A generator which produces energy (normally electricity) from the sun. Show/edit corresponding data item.
Group: power
Used on these elements
may be used on nodesshould not be used on waysmay be used on areas (and multipolygon relations)should not be used on relations (except multipolygon relations)
Useful combination
Status: approvedPage for proposal

A generator producing energy from the sun, commonly known as a solar panel. May form part of a solar power plant.

A solar generator can be either a thermal generator which outputs heat energy or (increasingly commonly) a  Photovoltaic generator which directly produces electrical energy from sunlight.

Mapping Photovoltaic Generators

Solar Park/Solar Farm

Solaranlage IMG 0533.jpg

The entire plant is drawn as area area, approximately where the fence is.

area
power=plant
plant:source=solar
plant:method=photovoltaic
plant:output:electricity=output rating or
plant:output:electricity=yes

The individual rows of the solar panel within the solar field can be mapped as follows:

area
power=generator
generator:source=solar
generator:method=photovoltaic
generator:output:electricity=output rating or
generator:output:electricity=yes
generator:type=solar_photovoltaic_panel
generator:solar:tracking=type of solar tracker or
generator:solar:tracking=no
location=surface

Rooftop Solar Panels

With the exception of extremely large installations, rooftop solar panels do not form part of a power plant (in industry terms, they're distributed generation), so they only need tagging as generators.

SolarFachwerkhaus.jpg
nodearea
power=generator
generator:source=solar
generator:method=photovoltaic
generator:type=solar_photovoltaic_panel
generator:output:electricity=output rating or
generator:output:electricity=small_installation
generator:solar:tracking=no or
generator:solar:tracking=type of solar tracker (rarely found on rooftops)
location=roof
generator:place=roof (alternative, less established tag)

Additional tags which can be used to provide additional information, which help calculate potential power output:

  • Number of modules making up the installation: generator:solar:modules=*. Modern modules have a rating of between 300-370W and measure roughly 1.5 by 1 m.
  • Compass orientation of the installation: generator:orientation=*. An alternative is to use the generic direction=* the tag values are the same (points of the compass usually in N,S,E,W,SE ... NNE form, or in degrees 0..360). The latter is to be preferred as it is a more generic tag and it has support in the iD editor.
  • Azimuth or pitch: no established tag yet. Values in degrees or flat or vertical.

Mapping Thermal Generators

Concentrated Solar Power Plants

A  Concentrated solar power system or concentrated solar thermal power plant concentrates the heat from the sun, usually with an array of mirrors. It then converts this energy to electricity by using a steam turbine.

Usually, the perimeter of a concentrated solar power system should be mapped as a power=plant, with the collector at the centre mapped as a generator.

Solar Plant kl.jpg
area
power=plant
plant:source=solar
plant:method=thermal
plant:output:heat=*
plant:output:hot_water=*
plant:output:electricity=*

The individual rows of the solar collectors within the solar field can be mapped as follows:

power=generator
generator:source=solar
generator:method=thermal
generator:output:heat=*
generator:output:hot_water=*
generator:output:electricity=*
generator:solar:tracking=*


Solar Thermal Collectors

A  Solar thermal collector collects heat from the sun. These devices are most commonly found as rooftop solar hot water panels, especially in warm countries. There are also ones designed to warm swimming pool water which can be confused with solar pv as they are often of similar size to a regular solar pv installation.

Sonnenkollektoren.jpg
node
power=generator
generator:source=solar
generator:method=thermal
generator:output:heat=*
generator:output:hot_water=*
generator:type=solar_thermal_collector
generator:solar:tracking=*
location=roof
generator:place=roof (alternative, less established tag)
Vakuumroehrenkollektor 01.jpg

vacuum collector

See also

Possible Tagging Mistakes

If you know places with this tag, verify if it could be tagged with another tag.
Automated edits are strongly discouraged unless you really know what you are doing!
If you know places with this tag, verify if it could be tagged with another tag.
Automated edits are strongly discouraged unless you really know what you are doing!
If you know places with this tag, verify if it could be tagged with another tag.
Automated edits are strongly discouraged unless you really know what you are doing!
If you know places with this tag, verify if it could be tagged with another tag.
Automated edits are strongly discouraged unless you really know what you are doing!