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 Journal Article   Open Access   Published 
 Journal of Ecoscience and Plant Revolution (ISSN 2435-7294)  Crossmark

Urban microclimate modeling for side-facade farming and agrivoltaic deployment in town estates  2025, 4 (1): 1-10  DOI 10.37357/1068/JEPR/4.1.01

Mille Ling Wei Goh1, Marcus Rui Jie Teo1, Wei Jun Lim1, Barbara Ting Wei Ang1, Chew Beng Soh1, Matteo Clementi2, and Val-entina Dessi2  

1Engineering Cluster, Singapore Institute of Technology, Singapore 138683, Singapore

2Department of Architecture and Urban Studies, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy

Singapore, a highly urbanized island city with limited land and agricultural space, faces significant challenges due to climate change and the urban heat island effect (UHIE). This study investigates the feasibility and potential benefits of integrating vertical farming (VF) on building facades and agrivoltaic (AV) systems on the rooftops of public housing (HDB) estates as sustainable solutions. To evaluate local microclimatic conditions, solar irradiance mapping was conducted using ClimateS-tudio across three HDB estates, representing both old and new buildings, to identify suitable facade surfaces for VF systems. The irradiance data were further analyzed using an energy balance equa-tion to assess surface temperatures, while additional parameters such as Daily Light Integral (DLI) and Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) were incorporated to determine facade suitability for crop cultivation. The simulation results indicate that VF systems on HDB facades provide a sub-stantial cooling effect by reducing heat transfer into buildings through the replacement of conven-tional materials with vegetation. This effect contributes to lower internal temperatures and en-hances urban thermal comfort. Suitable crops were identified based on facade conditions: (i) green pepper, suitable for high-light environments; (ii) cabbage, ideal for mid-rise facades; and (iii) let-tuce, which thrives in shaded areas. Additionally, the study examined the design and feasibility of modular AV systems on HDB rooftops using Grasshopper and PVSyst simulation software. Various AV configurations were evaluated to optimize agricultural productivity and solar energy generation. Findings suggest that incorporating crops within AV systems not only supports food production but also enhances photovoltaic efficien-cy by mitigating panel temperatures. The combined implementation of VF and AV systems presents a promising strategy for reducing carbon emissions associated with vegetable transportation, con-tributing to urban sustainability goals. This research demonstrates the feasibility and benefits of deploying VF and AV systems on HDB buildings, supporting Singapore's objectives for food security, renewable energy, and climate resilience.
 
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The authors acknowledge the funding support by (i) Singa-pore Science and Technology Cooperation R22I0IR116 and (ii) under the Singapore Food Story (SFS) R&D 621 Pro-gram first Grant Call (Theme 1 Sustainable Urban Food Production) Award SFS_RND_SUFP_001_09.