Solar On Every Roof

A solar panel on every roof in the US? Here are the numbers; Estimate shows rooftop solar could produce almost 40 percent of our electricity.

Scott K. Johnson, February 16, 2018 (Ars Technica)

“…[Detailed new research estimates] that there are a little over 8 billion square meters of suitable roofs in the US. Cover that in solar panels, and you would produce about 1,400 terawatt hours of electricity each year—about two-thirds of which would come from small residential buildings. The total production is equal to nearly 40 percent of the total electricity currently sold by utilities in the US…[That is almost twice the less detailed 2008 estimate] of 22 percent of electricity…[The new estimate is higher] partly because solar panel efficiency has improved but also because new sources of data made a more accurate estimate possible…States with strong sunlight and plenty of roofs obviously have the most potential…But that’s partly because of different electricity use. New England doesn’t have the sunniest skies, but the limited need for air conditioning in the summer helps keep electricity use down. As a result, that region could produce about half its total electricity from rooftop solar…[The output of the all-in scenario would not be enough to replace all power plants, but it is significant]…” click here for more

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