The technical and economic potential of urban rooftop photovoltaic systems for power generation in Guangzhou, China

Abstract

With the adoption of carbon peak and carbon neutrality targets, countries and cities must spend more on renewable energy to replace polluting and emitting traditional fossil energy sources. Distributed rooftop photovoltaic (PV) cells, in comparison to hydropower and wind generation, use only space and radiation resources and are the least restricted by geography and climate, making them a significant choice for communities looking to create green electricity. Using Guangzhou, a city in southern China, as an example, we offer four installation scenarios based on rooftop area data and research on relevant characteristics and analyze the technical and economic potential of PV power generation on the rooftops of urban buildings. The following conclusions are reached: the rooftop area in Guangzhou suitable for PV installation is 391.7 km2, with a maximum potential power generation capacity of 44.06–72.12 billion kWh per year, which could lower Guangzhou’s greenhouse gas emissions from the power industry by 70.12–100%. The optimal economics are reached with a 20° installation tilted angle and monocrystalline silicon PV panel material, with a 6-year payback period.