Rooftop reckoning
- 7 June 2021
If we could simply get solar panels onto every roof in the world, we’d have enough power to take care of at least half of humanity’s needs, and at best to supply nearly double the power required. Don’t believe it? Look!
- Total world power consumption in 2020 = 25,000 TWh
- Total number of human habitations = 1.3 bn
- Average roof area = 50 m²
- Average power availability from incident sunlight* = 0.1 – 0.4 kW/m²
Therefore:
- Total available power yield from rooftops = 6.5 – 26 TW
- Total potential annual energy production**: 12,000 – 47,000 TWh
That’s something worth thinking about, isn’t it?
*Assumes 15% efficiency **Assumes five hours’ sunlight