Asia accounted for nearly half of rooftop solar potential
Asia had the largest share of potential, followed by North America and Europe, with differences across months.
The key idea
Rooftop solar potential varies by place and time of year, not just by the number of buildings.
The study, in plain language
Researchers combined data on buildings, roads, population, and solar radiation to estimate how much roof area could hold panels and how much electricity it could generate. The estimate was organized by region and month, showing differences across latitudes and seasons as well as a global total.
The scenario assumed panels with uniform efficiency and that every identified roof was available, flat, and unshaded. It excluded the cost of expanding the electricity grid and storing energy. The estimate helps compare regions and months and inform solar planning; it does not promise what will actually be installed.
What they found
- The model calculated how much electricity rooftops could produce if all identified surfaces had panels.
- Asia accounted for the largest share of potential, close to half of the total but not more than half.
- Potential varied from month to month and from region to region.
How they studied it
Researchers trained a model on samples of roof surfaces from more than 300 million buildings. Using its global roof estimate and solar-radiation data, they calculated potential for each month. This is technical potential under the model’s assumptions, not a forecast of how many panels will be installed.
What the study cannot show
- The result is technical potential, not installed electricity or continuous supply. The estimate omits real-roof constraints and some grid and storage infrastructure.
Something to think about
When you see a figure for solar potential, check what it assumes about available roofs and which months the electricity would be generated.
The original study
High resolution global spatiotemporal assessment of rooftop solar photovoltaics potential for renewable electricity generation
Source under CC BY 4.0. English adaptation and explanation by PaperFlow, with AI assistance. The text has been reorganized for a general audience; it is not the complete paper and does not imply endorsement by its authors.
One study alone does not represent a field's consensus. Educational content does not replace professional advice. Report a possible error.
