Covering the world’s rooftops with solar panels could provide the majority of global electricity, and lower temperatures by 0.13 degrees according to new research by the University of Sussex.
Rooftops cover approximately 286,000 km² of the globe, an area similar in size to Italy or New Zealand. If every suitable roof was used, the study found photovoltaic solar (rooftop PV) could generate 19,500 TWh of electricity per year. This would cover 65 percent of current global consumption and almost completely replace fossil fuel-based electricity, if coupled with load shifting and battery-electric storage.
The researchers used advanced climate models to simulate the impact of widespread solar deployment by 2050. When it comes to global warming 0.13 degrees Celsius is a significant fraction.
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