What is rooftop solar PV?

Rooftop solar PV is a valuable addition to other renewable-energy sources, like open-field PV, as it utilizes existing infrastructure, reduces land consumption, and supplies electricity where it is needed. An accurate assessment of the rooftop solar PV potential is essential for efficient and sustainable resource use.

What are the National rooftop areas of solar photovoltaic energy?

Overall, the national rooftop areas are substantial across all scenarios, ranging from 2100 to 4500 km2. The applied methods and scenarios provide a straightforward way to reveal the spatiotemporal variability and define realistic ranges of the solar photovoltaic potential without requiring detailed information about each building.

Can rooftop solar power replace traditional electricity sources?

Gernaat et al. (2020) estimated that the global suitable roof area for PV generation was 36 billion square meters. This represents a potential of 8.3 PWh/y, which is equivalent to 150% of the global residential electricity demand in 2015. This demonstrates the potential of replacing traditional electricity sources with rooftop PVs.

Can rooftop solar power be used on residential buildings in Nepal?

Shrestha and Raut (2020) assessed the technical, financial, and market potential of the rooftop PV system on residential buildings in three major cities of Nepal through a field survey instead of simulation, and the results showed that 35% of the city's annual electricity consumption could be covered by solar power.

Can rooftop PV provide a constant supply of electricity?

Even if the annual electricity demand could potentially be fulfilled by rooftop PV, a constant supply could not be guaranteed due to the spatial dynamics of the resource, such as daily and seasonal variations .

Why do we need rooftop photovoltaics?

It serves as a valuable complement to other renewable-energy sources and is expected to play a crucial role in future electricity systems. Due to the spatiotemporal variability in the solar radiation on roof surfaces, it is essential to determine the potentials of the rooftop photovoltaics and its variations in specific regions.