| Description |
1 online resource (xi, 70 pages) : color illustrations. |
|
text txt rdacontent |
|
computer c rdamedia |
|
online resource cr rdacarrier |
| Series |
NREL/TP ; 6A20-65298 |
|
NREL/TP ; 6 A 20-65298.
|
| Note |
Title from title screen (viewed July 22, 2016). |
|
"January 2016." |
|
"Technical report." |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 41-42). |
| Summary |
How much energy could be generated if PV modules were installed on all of the suitable roof area in the nation? To answer this question, we first use GIS methods to process a lidar dataset and determine the amount of roof area that is suitable for PV deployment in 128 cities nationwide, containing 23% of U.S. buildings, and provide PV-generation results for a subset of those cities. We then extend the insights from that analysis to the entire continental United States. We develop two statistical models--one for small buildings and one for medium and large buildings--and populate them with geographic variables that correlate with rooftop's suitability for PV. We simulate the productivity of PV installed on the suitable roof area, and present the technical potential of PV on both small buildings and medium/large buildings for every state in the continental US. Within the 128 cities covered by lidar data, 83% of small buildings have a location suitable for a PV installation, but only 26% of the total rooftop area of small buildings is suitable for development. The sheer number of buildings in this class, however, gives small buildings the greatest technical potential. Small building rooftops could accommodate 731 GW of PV capacity and generate 926 TWh/year of PV energy, approximately 65% of rooftop PV's total technical potential. We conclude by summing the PV-generation results for all building sizes and therefore answering our original question, estimating that the total national technical potential of rooftop PV is 1,118 GW of installed capacity and 1,432 TWh of annual energy generation. This equates to 39% of total national electric-sector sales. |
| Funding |
National Renewable Energy Laboratory ED-AC36-08GO28308 SS13.1040 |
| Subject |
Photovoltaic power systems -- United States.
|
|
Photovoltaic power generation -- United States.
|
|
Solar energy -- United States.
|
|
Building-integrated photovoltaic systems -- United States.
|
|
Buildings -- Energy conservation -- United States.
|
|
Solar Energy.
|
|
Energy Planning, Policy, And Economy.
|
|
Building-integrated photovoltaic systems. (OCoLC)fst00840958
|
|
Buildings -- Energy conservation.
(OCoLC)fst00841028
|
|
Photovoltaic power generation. (OCoLC)fst01062167
|
|
Photovoltaic power systems. (OCoLC)fst01062185
|
|
Solar energy. (OCoLC)fst01124984
|
|
United States. (OCoLC)fst01204155
|
| Added Author |
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (U.S.), issuing body.
|
| Gpo Item No. |
0430-P-03 (online) |
| Sudoc No. |
E 9.16:NREL/TP-6 A 20-65298 |
|
