Study suggests solar panels on building walls could power cities and cut emissions

Beijing (ANTARA) - A new study conducted by a team of Chinese scientists shows that installing solar panels on the outer walls of buildings can produce large amounts of electricity, while lowering room cooling costs and reducing carbon emissions.

This research effort, led by researchers from the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research (IGSNRR) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), was published on Friday (27/3) in the journal Nature Climate Change.

Currently, most solar panels are installed on rooftops. However, buildings have vast vertical surfaces that have not been optimally utilised for energy production. The study examines what would happen if building walls were also covered with solar panels, a concept known as facade-integrated photovoltaics (FIPV).

Using building geometry data, characteristics, and weather conditions worldwide, the researchers created a model to estimate how much electricity FIPV could generate. They also examined how these panels affect heating and cooling needs inside buildings, as solar panels can provide shading and reduce heat absorption.

Based on the most feasible implementation scenario, the research team found that FIPV could produce around 732.5 terawatt-hours of electricity per year globally, an amount sufficient to meet the electricity needs of millions of homes.

At the same time, the panels would reduce average building electricity demand by 8.1 per cent, primarily by cutting air conditioning needs.

The researchers state that this combined benefit would yield significant economic gains and positive climate impacts. The study estimates that if FIPV reaches its full potential by mid-century, cumulative carbon emissions could be reduced by 37.7 gigatons.

However, the researchers note that to realise these benefits, targeted policies, careful planning, and strategies tailored to local conditions are required.

“As climate change triggers more extreme heat and increased energy demand in urban areas, this study highlights a long-overlooked opportunity to make buildings more energy-efficient and resilient to climate change,” said Yao Ling, a professor from IGSNRR.