Can rooftop solar power be used in high-density cities?

In sum, the approach developed in the current study appropriately estimate the potential of rooftop solar power generation, which can establish clean and low-carbon energy systems, including photovoltaic systems, for buildings in high-density cities.

Can rooftop solar PV power the residential sector?

The power generation potential for rooftop solar PV in the residential sector was explored in 13 major cities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [ 33 ]. When the PV design, local building construction, and cultural practices were considered, the estimated 51 TWh of annual electricity generation could satisfy 30% of the total national demand [ 33 ].

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.

Why is rooftop solar potential important?

The assessment of rooftop solar potential is vital for optimal photovoltaic (PV) system placement and renewable energy policy in dense urban areas. Complex shading from buildings and diverse rooftop obstacles have posed significant challenges to this evaluation.

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.

Is a rooftop energy balance the same as a SAM model?

The rooftop energy balance and the SAM (Solar Anywhere Model) model have the same properties, except for the emissivity of the roof surface, which cannot be modified in the SAM source code due to the need for altering the iterative solver of the heat transfer model.