Harvesting Solar Energy for Sustainable and Resilient historical areas. A Norwegian Case study

Toward cities' energy transition, historical urban areas are at risk of being abandoned due to energy inefficiency and high costs of retrofitting. Deployment of renewable energy solutions, such as solar energy technology, can strengthen resilience of these areas by fostering energy independence and lowering operational costs, while preserving their cultural and historical value for both cities and their residents. However, the integration of solar systems into these culturally significant urban spaces, brings challenges and barriers that require thoughtful and multi-criteria evaluation and prioritization to safeguard their inherent value and ensure their resilience for the future. In this paper, a literature review was conducted to identify conservation criteria/challenges that define successful implementation strategies for solar integration in historical urban areas. The findings suggest that challenges such as non-invasiveness, compatibility, and reversibility need to be addressed. Additionally, legislative gaps emerge as main barrier that requires targeted interventions. The study evaluates whether these challenges and barriers are consistent with those found in Møllenberg neighborhood in Trondheim, Norway as a case study historical area or whether such area requires specific and tailored measurements. The results offer insight into potential solutions and strategies to integrate solar technology for increasing the resilience of historical urban areas.