Optimizing Micro Renewable Generation for Smart Cities by Combining Solar and Geothermal Energy Potentials - A Case Study of the Hannover Region

In recent years there has been an increasing interest on small renewable energy production systems to supply energy consumption of buildings. In Europe, cities face the challenge of combining energy efficiency and sustainable urban development. This challenge is likely to have an impact on grid infrastructures by implementing intelligent networks and storage facilities in order to secure energy supply. This paper presents an approach for integrating solar and geothermal energy generation on the basis of a spatially explicit assessment of potentials for both energy sources. The results should be applicable for spatial planning. The case study area is the Hannover region. The results demonstrate that with data available in blanked coverage in Lower Saxony the assessment of both renewables energy potentials could be performed. The generated place based information meets the specific demands of regional as well as municipal land use planning. It can be used for allocation and prioritisation of housing development with micro-renewables and for proposing areas with the combination of both.