The answer to America ’s vigor problem could be right under our noses — or , rather , right over our heads . According to arecent studyby the Energy Department ’s Renewable Energy Laboratory ( NREL ) , America ’s rooftop are full of untapped electric potential . In fact , up to 39 percent of America ’s push could be render just by installing photovoltaic ( PV ) solar panel on urban rooftop .
Popular Sciencereports that NREL analyzed rooftops in 128 city across the United States , representing about 23 percent of all buildings in the U.S. , consort to an NRELpress instruction . The researchers assess the buildings ' suitability for hosting PV solar panels and measured how much power could be bring forth by each location . They found that 83 percent of minor buildings had the technical potential to host PV panels on part of their rooftop areas , while 26 per centum could host an entire rooftop ’s Charles Frederick Worth of dialog box .
researcher say that their finding far exceeded former estimate of the amount of ability that could be generate by rooftops alone . Their depth psychology estimates that rooftop have a technical potential of 1118 gigawatts of content and 1432 terawatt - hours of annual energy generation , which would equal 39 percent of America ’s total electricity sales ( based on 2013 numbers ) .
However , it ’s important to note that research worker analyzed technical potential only . That is , they considered imagination availability and the availability of blank space without also analyzing economic or political factors — which intend that while America may have the space for rooftop solar panels , it may not presently have the political will or a programme of action .
" An accurate idea of PV ’s expert potential is a vital input in the development of regional deployment plans,“explainsresearcher Pieter Gagnon . " Armed with this new datum , municipality , usefulness , solar energy research worker , and other stakeholders will have a much - meliorate starting power point for PV research and policymaking , both regionally and countrywide . "
[ h / tPopular Science ]
