Climate change is one of the hot potatoes that humanity must face at the moment. Although in recent years measures have been promoted to mitigate our footprint, at the same time we have followed depending on fossil fuels that contribute to the temperature increase of the planet. The renewables And, specifically, the solar energy It is postulated as technology that can help us reduce these emissions.
And a study published in Nature He points out that there is something better than filling the field of solar farms: the photovoltaic of roof.
Limit. In 2015, the Paris agreement launched an ultimatum: the temperature increase had to be limited Global to less than 1.5 or 2 degrees Celsius. They soon left reports that were not nor close to getting it And I know He pointed out That, by the end of the century, the temperature increase would be 2.8 degrees.
Since then, we have seen the impulse of an artificial intelligence that has needed to resort to fossil fuels or the Great oil company in the era of renewable transition. However, we have also seen the explosion of solar energy with Very cheap panels And every time more efficient. Next to wind, in 2023 provided 27% of EU electricity.
Megagranjas. In fact, there are already countries that operate practically With renewable energies And, as we say, Solar plays a very important role in this story. Not surprisingly, in recent years we have seen the pharaonic photovoltaic farm deployment capable of generating a lot of energy.
China goes to the head with plants that They look from spacebut there are few countries that already have huge areas of land dedicated to these panels or with in progress. However, there are those who think we can do better with the photovoltaic.
RPV. They are the acronym of ‘Rooftop Photovoltaic’, or ‘PHOTOVOLTAICA DE ALBOTEA’, and according to a study by the University of Sussex, it would be the solution to stop gaining ground to the field with solar panels and take advantage of something we do not take advantage of today: millions of roofs. According to their accounts, made through geospatial data and artificial intelligence models, the roofs cover more than 286,000 km² of the planet.
To put it in perspective, it is like the area of countries like Italy that yes, it may not seem too much, but imagine a solar farm of the size of … well, from Italy.
The orange areas represent 1,724 strategically selected cities for the development of predictive models with the aim of estimating the global roof surface
Staked to fossil fuels. According to researchers, taking advantage of roof Electricity consumed every year), which would allow to almost completely replace fossil fuels. Not only should the plates be installed, but also adequate battery systems.
According to its calculations, if that amount of territory was covered with solar panels, the global temperature could be reduced between 0.05 and 0.13 degrees before 2050. Beyond that gain, Felix Creutzig -one of the researchers at the University of Sussex -, considers that it would also contribute to having a cleaner air and greater energy safety, since we would be covered before specific demand peaks.
Roof area in km² at macroregional and national scale
Areas with potential. And, obviously, the plan would not go well if these panels are placed without ton or they are. In the study, it states that the ideal area to fill the roofs of buildings with solar panels is that of East Asia. The reason is the great density of buildings and the conditions of the area in terms of solar radiation.
North America and Europe also have great potential and, combined, these roof plates would generate more than 4,300 GW. In perspective, it is about a quarter of global capacity. Another advantage would be the decentralization of energy, making countries less vulnerable to energy and geopolitical crises.
Africa would also be a good site, but the problem is that the territory currently represents only 1% of photovoltaic facilities due to deficiencies in energy services and dependence on fossil fuels.
Stick to Nuclear. But well, we are currently burning coal when we need fast energy to satisfy the peaks, but we also have nuclear. So much that there are countries that have not only expanded the useful life of their centrals, but the closing decision of those already have to produce energy for a few more years.
As we read in PV-MagazineCreutzig affirms that “with an unleashed solar potential, it is difficult to understand how governments justify investment in nuclear energy or carbon capture projects that have not yet been proven.”
However, although nuclear also has its advantages over the use of fossil fuels, such as its power or stability, it is evident that the calculations of Sussex researchers are very interesting in order to take advantage to generate energy spaces that, right now, are underutilized. And be careful, it does not only stay in a study, since the University of Sussex has been testing This on the roofs around them.
Images | Nature, Cre
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