Aydın Tiryaki (February 16, 2026)

Introduction: Turning Cities into Energy Farms

While traditional energy policies focus on massive power plants located far from urban centers, modern urbanism highlights the “local production” model. Cities are no longer just black holes where energy is consumed; they have the potential to become active ecosystems that generate energy from every available surface. Specifically, areas under the management of municipalities and public institutions represent the most strategic points for this transformation.

1. Transportation Networks and Smart Bus Stops

The capillaries of cities, the bus lines, offer a massive reach through thousands of stop locations.

• Bus Stops: With standardized designs, the roofs and side surfaces of bus stops can be covered with photovoltaic panels. This does not only provide lighting for the stop but transforms it into an energy cell that can power surrounding street lamps.
• Metro Transfer Hubs: Large platform areas where dozens of buses congregate simultaneously possess thousands of square meters of “rain shelter” space. These areas are potential solar farms that can increase installed capacity to megawatt levels without requiring additional land expropriation.

2. Public Mega-Surfaces: Marketplaces

Indoor marketplaces are the widest flat areas in the urban fabric with no obstacles in front of the sun.

• Efficiency: A 5,000-square-meter marketplace roof can meet the annual electricity needs of approximately 400-500 households.
• Multi-functionality: On days when the market is not set up, these areas can be converted into electric vehicle (EV) charging parks fed from the roof, creating new revenue models for municipalities.

3. Pedestrian Overpasses: Integrating Aesthetics and Energy

Pedestrian overpasses should be redesigned as the city’s “energy tunnels” rather than just transportation tools.

• Balustrades and Cladding: Balustrades covered with transparent solar panels generate energy without blocking the line of sight.
• Curved Forms: Flexible (thin-film) solar technologies used in the curved or rotating enclosure areas of overpasses combine architectural aesthetics with energy efficiency. This energy can zero out the operating costs of elevators and escalators in the overpasses.

4. Parking Lots and Ground Applications

Concrete open parking lots within the city can be functionalized by covering them with “solar canopies” or heavy-duty ground panels. Floor panels durable enough for vehicles to drive on are ideal for parking lot entrance roads and public squares.

Conclusion: Economic and Environmental Gains

These solar energy investments in public spaces minimize the energy expenses of municipalities while providing a sustainable future by reducing the carbon footprint. The success of this model depends on integrating “energy production requirements” into the tenders for new urban furniture and structures.

| aydintiryaki.org | YouTube | Aydın Tiryaki’nin Yazıları ve Videoları │Articles and Videos by Aydın Tiryaki | Bilgi Merkezi│Knowledge Hub  | ░ Kamu Alanlarında Güneş Hasadı │ Solar Harvesting in Public Spaces ░ 16.02.2026

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A Note on Methods and Tools: All observations, ideas, and solution proposals in this study are the author’s own. AI was utilized as an information source for researching and compiling relevant topics strictly based on the author’s inquiries, requests, and directions; additionally, it provided writing assistance during the drafting process. (The research-based compilation and English writing process of this text were supported by AI as a specialized assistant.)