A new study published in Nature Cities on October 7, 2024, reveals that rooftop photovoltaic (PV) solar panels can increase daytime temperatures in urban areas by up to 1.5°C during peak summer periods and reduce nighttime temperatures by 0.6°C. The research, conducted by scientists from IIT Kharagpur, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the University of New South Wales, used data from cities like Kolkata, Sydney, Austin, Athens, and Brussels. It highlights the challenges posed by solar panels, particularly their inefficiency, with only 20% of energy captured while the rest is dispersed as heat. The excess heat can affect local wind patterns, delay sea breezes, and increase the planetary boundary layer, potentially improving air quality by reducing ground-level pollution. The researchers suggest modifications such as using photovoltaic thermal (PVT) systems, green roofs, or reflective surfaces to reduce the heat impact while maintaining energy efficiency. With rooftop solar adoption still low in India, further studies using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models are recommended to evaluate impacts at lower coverage levels.
Study links rooftop solar panels to urban heat
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